Fall is officially here, and halfway gone (it's much shorter in the North)
These trees are along highway 10 just outside of The Pas. They are gorgeous, and somehow trees with needles that go orange. It's wild to me. The colours make it a beautiful time to be outside, but the temperature is also just right for outdoor activity.
This evening I went out for a run for the first time in almost 2 weeks. Normally I'd be pissed off for missing so much time, but I had a wicked nasty cough/cold. (okay, I'm still a little pissed...)
I gotta tell ya, starting again is the WORST. Your running pace is slower, it's harder to breathe and it kind of makes you hate life for 20 minutes. But the burn is always worth it. There's always a sense of accomplishment afterwards (immediately followed by the need to shower).
It's also the perfect time to run outdoors right now. It's crisp so you don't overheat and the air is clear with the promise of Winter. We'll see if Winter is still my favourite season after I run through it...
I'll admit it, this time of year, I use ridiculous words like "spooktacular" as much as possible, because I can.
With the coming Holidays (Thanksgiving is this weekend, I get pumpkin pie, 'nuff said), October is up there with the coolest months of the year. It's a time when kids get candy, and get all dressed up like their favourite animal/character/ghoul. It's also a time for adults to get dressed up crazy ridiculous and party... Something I am a-okay with.
I particularly like the Manitoba way of doing things. Halloween Socials.
Growing up on the west coast, I had no idea what a social was until I moved to Manitoba. Now I love them. You get to help out a cause while getting cheap drinks and dressing up to a theme! Which is to say, it's all-around freakin' awesome.
The flip side to this awesome coin, is finding a costume. Sometimes it's a challenge. Not to get too complainy, but once you've decided what you want to dress up as, you have to piece it together. This is especially difficult for adults.
Long gone are the days of my mom hand making me costumes that are custom-fitted, adorable and completely original. If I had the time to sew (and could do it well enough) I would make my own costumes. Instead, I do the new age thing. I scour stores like a crazed couponer and pick my way through the internet, site by site. Plus I take stock of my closet and try to piece it all together like a fashionable puzzle. This is time consuming, but it works.
Last year I worked it out to 3 costumes for different occasions, and will do the same this year.
Zombie Katy Perry, Wayne, somewhat-alive Katy Perry
It was a pretty solid year. Those outfits were for a zombie walk, hosting karaoke, and hosting a family Halloween event. Thanks to my jobs, I do awesome things like this all the time.
This year CJ1240 is hosting a zombie walk where I'm currently working on a Zombie Punk Rocker look. There's also a top secret group costume in the works for a Saturday Night social, and I will be hosting a karaoke night/halloween bash at the bar where I will be Minnie Mouse!
The Minnie Mouse one I've got all worked out with pieces I found online, all of which I can use again, some in every day life:
super cute dress - check
accessories - check
shoes - check
So imagine those all together with black tights and black long sleeve shirt underneath. Voila! Thanks to the internet, one of three costumes and it cost me about $75 (with shipping).
Not too shabby!
Have a Fright-tastic fall! I'll be waiting for my costume building blocks to arrive at the post office!
Here's a first! Since I started running, it's been all about me. I want to be healthier, I want to get fit, I want to look and feel better. That's why most people change their habits and lifestyle. Today however, I ran for a cause.
Cars, Stop! We're trying to stop Breast Cancer!
This is The Pas' equivalent to the Run for the Cure. Personally I raised about $200 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. There were people there who raised thousands. In total, $8197 was raised. Almost 50 people showed up in support of the cause to walk, run, bike and be awesome.
A beautiful day to beat down breast cancer.
It felt really great to do this run. 5km is pretty far (I swear it felt longer than that...), but when it comes down to it, that's nothing when you consider what those with breast cancer go through each day. To be a part of helping a great cause feels good, plus it's bonus exercise.
Fall has definitely arrived in the last few days here in The Pas, though it hasn't been cold. In my opinion, the conditions for running were basically perfect. Sunshine, about 15 degrees (Celsius), and a lot of wind. The wind is awesome this time of year, it really helps you keep cool while the sun beams down on you. and today, the wind was pretty wicked:
What a lovely action shot... I swear my hair isn't a mohawk, that's the wind's fault (and yes, I realize my legs are still super white and summer just ended - I have a job, it's indoors ok?!?!).
But seriously, I just want to send out a big THANK YOU to everyone who donated to me for this run. You are amazing, and don't forget it.
I really feel like I'm getting in better shape every day, and I may just have to take on a few more charity runs in the future!
It's been a while and now let's get back to talking entertainment! Literally talking...
Kelly Cortez (from 610 CHTM) and I have decided to start up a podcast!
We are calling it "Pop Culture Punch!" - When it hits you, you'll know!
Each week, we will look at something happening in the world of entertainment. It could be movies, TV shows, comic books, celebrities, trending topics, etc.
This week, we nerd out over Joss Whedon and Chris Hemsworth, and their awesomeness.
The last few weeks I was away and I didn't post - Why? Because I was here:
Vancouver (and Surrey, Burnaby and White Rock)!
I had to go home for a visit and some serious R & R (read: Shopping). Plus my Dad was getting remarried, so I guess that was important too. ( What matters is I looked good, more on that in a bit...)
It was just the break I needed, with two days blastin' tunes in the car each way.
Sometimes, it got epic.
I truly love driving, I do. However, I hate driving when people suck at it (other people, not me, I'm awesome). Let's just say gravel highways, construction zones and semi trucks lead to an irritable Alysha with a Stone Chip in her Windshield, UGH!
The trip went like this:
On the way there:
MOUNTAINS! I'm IN THE MOUNTAINS! YAYYYYYYYY
On the way back:
MOUNTAINS?!?! WHAT HAPPENED TO MY MOUNTAINS?!?!?
For a minute, it was devastating, then I turned on my Adele CD for a good cry...
I like the mountains, OKAY?!? They're PRETTY!
Eventually I got over it. Anyways, recently, I've been blogging a lot about getting healthier and working out and what-not, so quick update.
While on vacation, I still went for my jogs, did some crunches and punches, and even pulled out the skipping rope (You should know, I look absolutely ridiculous skipping and I did this outdoors).
I was also pleasantly surprised when I arrived back in The Pas to see the Boxing Gym I go to had a face lift and new sign!
It's so bright! It will be my beacon in the snow on my way to work and workout this winter.
The health thing is working by the way, I feel much better, I have more energy and it is starting to show (according to my Mom anyway!). The reason I actually went to Vancouver this particular week was because of my Dad's wedding (it's weird, I don't even... whatever), but it's all good, because I looked awesome and got to see my family!
From left to right: my siblings and Me. I know what you're thinking, and YES! I DID dye my hair to match my dress. Seriously... I'm that neurotic sometimes.
If you're wondering where the dress is from, it's from a great plus size site - Kiyonna - I totally love it!
All in all, it was a successful trip! I got to see a lot of my friends and family that I haven't in a while, and it's always nice when you can talk to people's faces instead of just their facebooks.
My little brother and I were super stoked to see each other or something, because this next pic I leave you with, may be one of the greatest photos of me ever taken. Thanks for the assist Nikko...
Who is this? Do I know you?
So that's it. Back to routine and I'll try to update more! Thanks for reading!
