Keira-anne.com

I just got back from Victoria a few hours ago. I bought myself a souvenir – new Keds. My love affair continues. I got off the bus in Nanaimo where my mom met me, took me to the Bay and bought me these ones too.

I took the first shuttle to Victoria yesterday morning, and was picked up in downtown Victoria by Toni to be whisked away for a killer day/night in the capital city. First we avoided the Harbour crowds, all there to catch a glimpse of the tall ships, and instead headed for the rocky beach on Dallas Road to walk, talk and catch up.

After a quick catnap, we took in Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia at IMAX. True, it was air conditioned, but being that the temperatures soared to 33 degrees on the inner Harbour, our next stop was the cold beer store. After beers on his roof, we stopped in briefly at a BBQ (where I met some truly stellar and ridiculously funny people) before heading back downtown so Toni could work it at the door. He’s a doorman at Lucky Bar. For fun.

I played the role of Lucky doorgirl, which involves nothing more than standing around and batting my eyelashes while the guys check ID.

This morning I opted to spend a bit of solo time downtown, so I made an early morning trek along Oak Bay Avenue to where the action is and found myself amongst the tall ships, the last of which were getting ready to set sail for Port Alberni.

Time spent in Victoria is never time wasted; it’s a truly classy city with wondrous sights to see that never cease to amaze me. Viewing the unique homes is alone worth the trip over. As I sit here in my mom and aunt’s lush, green backyard – Vancouver Islander Lager in hand – I am reminded of how grateful I am to be able to call a place like this home. The only sound I hear is the gentle patter of Charley’s paws on our deck and a few tiny birds distantly chirping back and forth in the trees. Now if only I could do something about these mosquitoes…

When arriving in the Comox Valley on Wednesday evening, I was positively giddy when, upon nearing my family’s home, I saw a brand spankin’ new sign directing folks to a vineyard. I managed to grab the name, and upon doing a quick Google search, I found Beaufort Vineyard & Estate Winery [website]. Being the lover I am of both wine and consumable products made and bought locally, this excited me greatly. Today I managed to stop in during the middle of a sun-soaked afternoon in the Comox Valley.

The grapevines at Beaufort have been growing for close to two years and on May 30, 2008, Beaufort was ready to open its doors to the public. Jeff and Susan Vandermolen turned their passion for wine into reality by bringing the Comox Valley its first-ever winery and vineyard.

I was instantly greeted with a friendly smile and warm handshake from the vineyard’s proprietors, and Jeff was quick to fill me in on the wines being produced and sold through the vineyard. After sampling a few different bottles, I chose the 2007 Ortega – winner of the Northwest Wine Summit 2008 Bronze Medal. I’m not normally one for white wines, and being that I knew how young the grapes were, I was slightly hesitant. However, to my ultimate surprise the wine was fantastic! Light, crisp, slightly fruity with a near-perfect aroma.

The property also features a lush and shaded picnic area with a view of Vancouver Island’s mountains that’s incomparable.

Beaufort is open for viewing and wine tasting on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but make sure you double check the website instead of taking my word for it.

I thanked Jeff and Susan for their hospitality and promised that I’d encourage you all to check out Beaufort next time you’re in the Comox Valley, so check out Beaufort next time you’re in the Comox Valley! It’s a few minutes north of Courtenay on highway 19A, just south of what was Tsolumn School. Click here for directions.

Beaufort wines are currently available at the Coast Hotel Beer and Wine store, as well as several select restaurants in the Comox Valley. One of those restaurants happens to be at the Kingfisher Spa, which was my next stop this afternoon. Being that I’d put the call out but got no response, I went to the one place that I know treats its guests to stellar pedicures.

Today Amanda scrubbed, buffed, soaked, trimmed, softened, moisturized, massaged and polished my tender feet and it felt like heaven. She’s also a super cool girl and comes highly recommended for excellent conversation! And as a bonus, the Kingfisher lets you keep the OPI polish you choose. I walked on the semi-wild side and came home with poppin’ purple on my toenails.

And now it’s time, oh my brothers, to get my booty into bed. Sunday starts soon and I’m getting up early to make a beeline for Victoria to spend a bright and shiny afternoon in the Province’s capital city with my friend Antonio before we hit up Lucky Bar (he’s working for a few hours and I promise you all not to make a repeat of my last trip there) before rooftop cocktails at midnight. More fun, more photos!

It’s never much been known for being a sandy beach, but Goose Spit Park always has the best sun and most gorgeous views. Being that it’s situated on a sandbar, the shores are completely exposed, and the blue sky meets the even bluer ocean on both sides. It felt great to finally spend a day in the sunshine, armed with lime chips, water and yummy coconut oil. Mostly, it was nice to lay alone and listen to the ocean.

Charley and I are about to take a walk around the block as she so loves doing, before I snag a bit more sunshine and head to the Kingfisher Spa for an indulgent pedicure. Tonight our family’s firing up the BBQ with our oldest family friends for some together time. I am sure there are many more photos to come in my kickoff to Summer 2008.

My plan for today: lay in the sunshine on the beach, endlessly, clad in my true blue bikini and coconut oil with Charley at my side. Mother Nature’s plan for today: sprinkling rain and chilly air. Can’t no weather hold me down. I showered, dressed and headed into town instead and met up with my oldest friend in the world, Kortney. First stop: Atlas Cafe for tasty eats.

I almost always order the baked bean burrito with tofu. And yes, it is as good as it looks. The price tag? A mere $6.

Kortney’s two days out of surgery and hopped up on a serious dosage of Demerol. As if it wasn’t obvious.

After a good meal, I also need a little “something-something” that’s sweet. Call it taking the edge off, if you will. Upon her suggestion, we headed to the Tin Town area of Courtenay to hit up the Freakin’ Coffee Shop. Yes, that’s what it’s called. Opened in recent years, Freakin’ is a Wonderland of eclectic finds, retro furniture and vintage lamps in an industrial setting.

They’ve got a pretty decent selection of bites to nibble, organic fair trade coffees, teas and my new favourite: London Fog. Their website is fairly new, but updated content and the events schedule are constantly being added to, so check it out. The shop is hoping to welcome more live acts in the coming months and I, for one, will be heading back there next time I’m in the Comox Valley. It’s just one of those places I feel super comfy in.

My fingers, toes and legs are crossed in hopes that tomorrow brings a bit of sunshine and warmth. I need colour, beach time and relaxation in the sun, and I have a feeling I just might be in luck.

Less than a year ago, our family life changed. After having a dog-free household for years, we adopted a new puppy. The day we brought Charley home, September 1, she was tiny enough to fit into my two palms. The first thing she did was “den” under our dining room table and get accustomed to her new home. Since then, she has grown bigger, gotten smarter, become lovelier and made her home in our hearts.

And while it’s no longer possible to carry her in the palms (it’s really more like carrying a toddler around), she’s still the little girl we brought home in the fall – just one year older. I was going to spend the afternoon in the sunshine at the beach with her as a birthday treat, but the rain is falling in Courtenay. Instead, she’s curled up next to me as I type her tribute.

As we celebrate our girl’s first birthday, here’s a quick look back on her first year in pictures and video.

Turns out she’s just as much of a snow bunny as her big sister!

Few dogs are this photogenic all the time…

P.S. Charley loves the new chew toy she got from her Auntie Becky!

It is only a few days shy of July and already my feet have the appearance of early September.

Photo: Betsssssy on Flickr

Help me!

The place I normally go to in an effort to tend to my toes does a decent run-of-the-mill job for your everyday pedicure, but my feet need some serious TLC – stat! I’m willing to spend a little more than the average pedicure, need some deep and intense moisture and would prefer somewhere in downtown Vancouver. Obviously, clean and sanitary conditions are a must.

Suggestions, please.

After two long, lovable months of puppy-sitting two of my most favourite dogs, tomorrow is the day on which I have to hand back the leashes. It’s impossible to not become attached after having these two as the entire focus of each and every day for weeks on end, and one would be silly to think they haven’t grown somewhat attached to me more than they already were. To go from everything to nothing is very difficult, but thankfully I’m headed to the Island on Wednesday evening (to help one special little girl celebrate her first birthday), so it’ll be a great opportunity for distraction.

Being that today is my last full day with them, I grabbed my friend Phaedra after work and took Benji and Casey down to Crab Park for some off-leash fun! These were the times that ensued…

Legendary comedian (and ‘Rufus’ to us kids of the 80s) passed away early Sunday at the age of 71, succumbing to heart failure.

Photo: BillandTed.org – the Official Bill and Ted Connection on the Web

To some he was a crude, crass and funny stand-up comedian, whose routine act was precedent-setting. To the rest of us, he was lovable Rufus, sent from the future to save Bill and Ted’s hides from failing history while providing them with some most excellent guitars to ensure that Wyld Stallyns’ music would, indeed, bring harmony to the world one day.

Article on People.com

You know how you wake up each day, go through the usual morning routine of showering, washing your hair, moisturizing, blah blah blah? And then one day, as you’re in the middle of said routine, a glance in the mirror causes an “ewww…what’s with my hair?”

Long and straight doesn’t require much maintenance, and I normally only get my hair cut about three times a year. A week ago, I had that “ewww…” reaction and promptly booked an appointment with my favourite pro.

I was supposed to go yesterday, but being that I spent two days holed up in bed with wicked food poisoning (or maybe a flu bug?), I had to postpone until this afternoon. I’ve been seeing Mari at The Lounge Hair Studio for almost two years, and it would take somethin’ fierce to convince me to see anyone else when it comes to my tresses. It’s like she told me today, working with me is more like working with a girlfriend than a client; we can talk, share things with each other and indulge in some good old-fashioned celebrity juiciness.

Not only does she do a wicked job each and every single time, she knows her stuff. Plus, it’s the place to hit up if you’re seeking out some Bumble-y goodness. I know I’ve already sent one satisfied client Mari’s way. Let the sun shine in, indeed!

…we just live in it.

The more I live, the more I experience.
The more I experience, the more I grow.
The more I grow, the more I learn.
The more I learn, the more I understand myself.
The more I understand myself, the easier it is to conclude what I want and need.

Photo: sirenbrian on Flickr

I still want to win the lottery, but not so that I can be wealthy. Though, that’s not entirely true, because my dream has expanded, and to accomplish what I would wish to do would require money…and probably a lot of it.

Photo: sirenbrian on Flickr

I love dogs (let’s all say “duh” in unison here). In fact, I am beginning to enjoy the company and spirit of dogs almost more than that of people. It isn’t to say I don’t love people, of course, but there’s just something about canines that is so unconditional.

I love walking dogs and playing with dogs and taking pictures of dogs and feeding dogs and spoiling dogs. The joy and satisfaction is, I could say, even greater than that I experienced while teaching preschool some years ago.

Being in the middle of a growth spurt of the internal kind, some conclusions I have been drawing have struck me as somewhat surprising. I have always dreamt of the married life with 2.5 kids and a minivan. And now? Not so much. Perhaps that will change, but today, it’s definitely not where I am at.

I want to be the old lady who lived with her dogs.

Photo: mosilager on Flickr

So here is where my expanded dream comes in: were I to rake in the big one, I know precisely what I’d do. I’d buy a spacious chunk of property, somewhere in the range of 20 acres, nestled somewhere between Parksville and Coombs. After building a comfortable home for myself (and pepper a few little patio homes across the property for family and friends), I’d build a kennel. But not just one or two little concrete and chain-link kennels. I’d build 30 or 40 kennels, built of warm cedar with soft blankets and countless toys.

And while I wouldn’t want 30 or 40 dogs of my own, I’d hire a round-the-clock veterinarian and create a sanctuary for abused, abandonded or lost dogs. The veterinarian could take care of the physical health aspect; while giving the dogs ample fields in which to play, run, rest and socialize would help rehabilitate them on the inside.

To say it would be my “dream” would be highly understating the truth.

If you were bestowed unlimited funds to build your philanthropic dream, what would you do?