Author Archives: Jennifer Ryan

14 Sleeps Until Italy

25 Friday Jun 2010

Posted by in Travel

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

Ok so I know I have written about my trip before but I can’t believe it is just 14 sleeps away.

I think it will finally sink in this weekend when I pull my suitcase out and start to get organized. I am really going to have to show restraint when packing because I am flying Air Transat and Ryan Air and they have serious weight restrictions. I am the typical girl who packs a huge bag to go to Whistler for 2 days so packing for a 2 weeks holiday is going to be a chore. I mean, I won’t know what I am going to feel like wearing that day, so isn’t it best to have all sorts of options? Like everything I own? But in all seriousness, I am travelling to Italy and there are going to be things purchased. Prada Outlets anyone? I must have enough room to bring things back with me.

We are going to be driving around Italy, so I had to get an international drivers license which I got this past week. Why are those photos always so awful? I look dead in it. I was saying that I need to learn to smeyes (Tyra Banks term for smiling with the eyes) to bring some life to those types of pics. My friend Sue text me after she got hers done… “I look like I am in a wind tunnel with a receding hairline”. Classic. We have a great Italy road map that should help us stay on track and I have printed out google maps. I love my google map collection: Cortona hotel to Prada outlet. Prada Outlet to Greve hotel. Greve hotel to The Mall outlets. I have my priorities!

We also have a lot of the main attractions in Rome and Florence booked already so we can bypass the lines. The last thing I want to do is waste time in a lineup. We have booked the Colosseum, Galleria Borghese Museum and The Vatican in Rome. In Florence we booked the Uffizi Gallery, Pitti Palace and the Accademia Gallery. Feels good to be organized!

It’s going to be another great trip. I get to travel with a good friend, attend the wedding of another and see a part of Europe that I have been wanting to see forever. 14 sleeps. Can’t wait!

Broken Bells

27 Thursday May 2010

Posted by in Music

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

When I first heard “High Road” by Broken Bells, I was taken. Love the song and immediately bought the album on its release. I am a huge fan of The Shins so it isn’t surprising that I would like Broken Bells which features James Mercer, the lead singer for The Shins. It also features Brian Burton who some might know as Danger Mouse.

I jumped at the chance to get tickets to their show in Vancouver and was thrilled that they were playing at the Commodore. Such a great venue to really get a chance to see any band up close and personal.

Broken Bells

Broken Bells did not disappoint. With a big band backing both James and Brian (a total of 7), they played through most of the album with the addition of a few covers.

Brian on keyboard and James singing.

Has to be said, although I loved the show, I wish there had been some more audience interaction. A little more engagement from the band to really draw me in. That would have taken the show, for me, from being great to amazing!

 



Body for Life Update

19 Wednesday May 2010

Posted by in Health & Fitness

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

I have just over 7 weeks to go on this strict Body for Life program. Which means I am pretty much half way.

So how am I feeling? I am feeling great. I am feeling so much stronger. The three times a week weights program has really helped me in my training for Seek the Peak. And I am definitely seeing a difference in my body. Inches have been lost all over! And I am starting to see my muscles come back… and maybe a hint of a 4 pack but that might just be wishful thinking!

The scale really hasn’t moved a lot which has gotten me a little down. But knowing that muscle weighs more than fat and knowing that I have lost inches, I have decided that I am not going to step on the scale again until the end of the program when I do my body fat percentage. That will show me the real results.

I am struggling with food a bit. Not that I want to eat bad food but more that I tend to eat the same thing over and over again and am just getting bored with it. My mission this long weekend is to find some decent recipes that I can switch up my meal routine with.

I am really proud of myself for making it this far. I know the next 7 weeks will be a breeze!