Ready... Set... Go!

I had a feeling October was going to be significant in regards to change... There is something in the air, I can see it around me & feel it everywhere. Change is here!

For me personally, last week was a big one... I received a job offer & accepted ! I am joining the Dubai based executive recruitment firm Derwent Yeomans as their Researcher & Networker. Derwent Executive is well established in Australia & Asia, but they are now branching out to the Middle East. This is such an exciting opportunity to join a start up company, learn about a new industry & develop my career. They even have a Monday night golf networking events - how wonderfully perfect!

So this week Im leaving Ottawa, which will give me a few days to adjust to the 8 hour time difference, the weather & allow me to settle in before my October 28th start date. It's a long journey back with 2 large suitcases and my golf clubs, but everything is ready to go :) Nonetheless, I have a little twinge of nervousness in my stomach as the uncertainty of the unknown is a bit unsettling, but it only adds fuel to my fire.

Of course change isnt easy... For me, these past few months have been an evolution of self ! I think people change & grow at different rates, some evolve faster & others slower, and really there is no right and wrong. Hopefully along the way we learn from our mistakes, move forward with no regrets, and always take a positive approach to life. In this process, we must be respectful to one's self & to others, mean what we say & say what we mean.

Moving onto this new chapter of my life, I am closing certain doors behind me. I don't think they will be shut forever, but for now I need to concentrate on myself & my goals. It hurts & quite simply it's painful, but I believe I have new valuable life lessons to learn from other people...you never know who you are going to meet next, who is going to inspire you & who is going to challenge you to be a better you.

Thank you to all those people who have been supportive - it means the world to me & I appreciate your friendship and love :)

xox <3 xox

My Latest Stereo Adventure

A few weeks back when I saw that Chus & Ceballos were going to be spinning at Stereo on Saturday September 29th, I knew I had to be there & I was going to make it happen...

Throughout my worldly travels, I have never experienced anything like Stereo before - quite simply, a dance haven for electronic music lovers & a playground for DJs. Everyone can be themselves under the huge shiny disco ball & dance dance dance the night away.  People there appreciate and understand the musical journey that they are brought on without waiving their cell phones in the air & creating a concert like atmosphere. On Saturday, the environment was enhanced with jungle like decor, extra visual screens & black light making the overall experience even more of an adventure. I just wish I hadnt worn white socks with my mostly dark outfit haha - my feet were glowing! What makes Stereo extra memorable is the staff... From the owners Mike & Tommy who've always got everything cooly under-control & who book amazing talent week after week, to the security - props to Mike, and to Dominic the gatekeeper who can be found busting sick moves on the dfloor later in the evening. It's crazy to think how many people come and go through those doors, and yet they know whats going on with my life...

Chus & Ceballos + Stereo = Best times! I truly think this is a match made in heaven, an equation to the best times ! Not once have I been to Stereo when C&C were playing, and it wasnt epic... They emit their passion for music through the speakers, and you can truly feel it - it moves you even when you think your legs have had enough. They know when to bring it, when to give you a rest & when to put those sweet vocal tracks in. One of my favorite parts was when they played a tribal version of "Youve Got the Love" by Florence & the Machine. Definitely had that WOW factor.  Chus & Ceballos also interact with their crowd, and recognize their fans. Everytime Im at one of their events, Chus says hi - and we chat. And they even played a remix of an INXS song after JJ told Chus that he loved it! It's the simple acknowledgements that add to the night.

 

In following with my theme of change, I stepped out of my comfort zone and joined JJ and his friend Aubrey on this adventure. Usually, I am the one driving and in control of the details, but I thought Id try something new... There are a lot of "what ifs" when going on an out of city trip w people you dont really know, but in this case, it turned out perfectly. I made a new friend, got to know one friend more, talked to new people at Stereo that I otherwise probably wouldnt have talked to, and enjoyed it all. I even came across three other people who had the Stereo tats! I knew I was going to be at this event, I made it happen & enjoyed every minute of it :)

I highly recommend checking out Stereo when youre in Montreal - www.stereo-nightclub.com - it's such a unique venue to experience at least once, and then again & again. And hey, if my Mom and her two friends Donna & Michelle did it, you can too ;) haha. Just be prepared for some sore legs! Fridays are geared towards tech lovers & Saturdays are prog, tribal and drums... If I lived in Montreal, I would wake up early on the weekends and go dancing at Stereo to start my days :)

Chus & Ceballos have podcasts you can follow on iTunes :
* Pablo Ceballos "Drumatika"  http://djpabloceballos.podomatic.com/rss2.xml
* Chus "Stereo! Radioshow by Chus"  http://feeds.feedburner.com/InStereoRadioShow
And of course, you can find them on Beatport, Soundcloud & Facebook.

xox <3 xox

Embracing Change

October is a beautiful month to embrace the change we want in our lives. In Ottawa, the weather is changing to a crisp autumn coolness, and the leaves are changing from summer greens to vibrant reds, oranges & yellows. For fellow Canadians, Thanksgiving is also nearly upon us, which is a great holiday to spend with those we love & reflect on what we are most grateful for. While this holiday only happens once a year, it is important to recognize the notion of gratitude on a daily basis as we are blessed with such beautiful moments in our every day lives. Quite simply, beauty is everywhere if we open our hearts to it.

This summer I was very fortunate to be able to take time for myself to really reflect on the big picture of life. What did I want from life ? How was I going to pursue it ? Where was I going to pursue it ? Where did I want to focus my energies? And so forth... The questions were endless, and I didnt have any concrete answers nor did I have any focus or direction.

Looking within oneself is not easy... It means asking yourself those tough questions & searching deep down for the answers. It's uncovering one's true path & in the process letting go of all the negative energy holding you back. For me this primarily involved re-scripting certain notions and thought paths I had preconceived about my life in order to accept change & new ideas. While I am not saying I have all the answers now, I do feel confident in my decisions, prepared to tackle my ambitions, and ready to overcome any obstacles in my way.

"Our only limitations are ones we set in our own minds"

Yes, the unknown can be scary - but how boring would life be if everything and everyone stayed the same. We are continually learning valuable life lessons from our experiences, our relationships, and our mistakes. And, to be able to recognize those lessons is so important to our personal and professional evolution. Where would our society be without that learning curve, without evolution and without mistakes?

With an open mind and spirit, change can be such a beautiful experience that leads to new exciting opportunities that one never even imagined.

xox <3 xox

  

"There's only one Queen, and that's Madonna bitch!"

On Monday June 4th, Aaron and I headed down to Abu Dhabi for the much anticipated Madonna concert, part of her MDNA tour to promote her new CD. As she was playing two shows in Abu Dhabi, we were able to get tickets for the the second night. Luckily, we had won a free nights stay at the Abu Dhabi Rotana, so we were able to redeem the night at the same time.

We arrived to the du Arena at Yas Island around 8 pm. DJ Benny Benassi opened for Madonna which was quite clever really, because who else could open for Madonna - one of the world's top selling female recording artists. He played commercial house, and the excited crowd danced around anxiously awaiting the Queen of Pop. Mr. Benassi stop spinning around 9:30 pm, and the final preparations were set on stage. And the waiting began... We had heard from friends that Madonna had not come on until 11 pm the previous night, and that people had started booing & leaving as they were tired and frustrated of the long wait in such hot weather. Apparently there were no technical difficulties or anything of that nature, quite simply Madonna had wanted to build anticipation - but really, it was pushing it. At least we were prepared, and we did in fact have to wait until 11 pm before the concert began.

The show was amazingly entertaining !!! Everything from Madonna herself, to the production, costumes, entertainment, visuals, and to the controversy, it was THE best concert I have ever seen. Im not even a die hard Madonna fan, but in my opinion, it was worth every singly penny, and I would even go see the show again. To all of you who are going to her upcoming shows, you are in for a real treat.

The playlist for the MDNA tour is as follows: http://mymdna.com/the-final-mdna-tour-set-list/
If you are expecting to relive her past hits, you will be slightly disappointed... As you will see, it is mostly songs from her new CD.

The concert itself was extrememly well produced. It was like watching art. The backgrounds and sets were continuous changing, as were Madonna's outfits, and there was always something happening on stage. For example, when Madonna was changing, she had a group of contortionists bending their bodies in distrubing manners - or, she had these acrobats jumping on thin stretched out elastic ropes (this is too hard to explain, but in short, it was fascinating!) Everything had a WOW factor...

Several instances really stood out as during her performance...
* During the song Revolver, Madonna was being attacked by assailants, and fighting them off. There were guns everywhere!! And, everytime she "shot" someone, there was blood splattered on the visual screen.
* Religion and religious symbols were highly used throughout the concert. At times seeming like Madonna herself was the one who should be worshipped. I think she is really the only person who could pull that off!
* Madonna's rendition of Like A Virgin was outstanding. Mind you it didnt sound anything like the original as she broke it down real slow, and sang alongside a piano player.
* Gay rights were the subject to one her interludes. I think it's great that she uses her concert as a forum to display her beliefs. However, being in a Muslim country, I was quite surprised to see that her concert was actually allowed to play at all, and then again the second night. With the religious connotations, the gay rights stance, the violence, I believe she even sang in Hebrew, it very much goes against what the UAE allows.
* Further to that point, the UAE does not even identify Isreal on their printed maps, nor do they allow people coming from Israel to enter (there are ways around this of course, but its not ideal.) Madonna had started her tour in Tel Aviv, and had just come there - apparently some of her crew had to differt through other cities in order to be allowed in.
* And while we are on the topic of controvery, Madonna used clips of Lady Gaga's song "Born this Way" mixed with her song "Express Yourself"- it is said that Gaga copied Madonna on that song, and why not put more fuel to that fire during her show !
* Madonna's second to last song was "Like A Prayer" and sadly it was one of the few instances where the crowd got into it. There was a gospel choir behind her, it was upbeat & fun.
* Madonna was lisynching some of the time. At first I thought it was scandalous, but then with the amount of dance routines & movements on stage, it became understandable and quickly forgotten. She did play her guitar at times - which was commendable, but she never really showed skill with it, it was more of a prop.
But while it is not surprising that there were controversial aspects in Madonna's concert, it became obvious why she has gained so much fame and really is the Queen of Pop. After waiting so long for the concert to start, and thinking Madonna was too much of a diva, she really redeemed herself on stage. At one point, she got down on her knees and started wiping the sweat pools off the stage so neither she or her dancers would slip and fall. She simply proclaimed it was hot and sweaty, and got to it.
* I cannot imagine having to perform that kind of concert in this type of heat. At night it was still close to 40 degrees, and all the performers were in full costumes. We had heard that the concert promoters had offered Madonna a full air conditioned stage, but she turned it down, but then requested it one week before her tour was to arrive. And, it was impossible to build in one week so no air con for the Madge & her crew.
* Her 11 year old son Rocco was also part of some of the production as one of her dancers. He came out during some songs, and did a great job as part of her crew.

BUT...and yes, there is a final BUT... as Madonna said "Thank you Abu Dhabi" and descended into the stage, the lights came on, most of the crowd dispsersed and that was it. NO ENCORE! Alot of people were left standing there - including us - wondering if she would come back on, but we were left disappointed. Mind you, the crowd wasnt exactly cheering for an encore, so if I was Madonna I dont think I would care either, but it still left a bad taste is our mouths.

Overall concert rating: 5 star WOW! 

xox <3 xox

Photos courtesy of http://www.mymdna.com/, be sure to check out the site for up to date information about Madonna's tour.

During Revolver





Madonna at the top of the podium, Rocco in front during the last song Celebration

Want a little video about the tour with some great snipits : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIRrJTnHzJE&feature=related



Peppermint Experience: Paul van Dyk

As I have a bit of spare time on my hands these days, I have been entering contests to win various prizes. Low and behold, I won four tickets to see Paul van Dyk spin at the Dubai World Trade Centre for the Peppermint Experience's 8th anniversary party on Friday June 2nd, 2012 ! 

* Back in December, Peppermint had one of their events with DJ Luciano and I had also entered to win tickets, and I had won ! Crazy to think it would happen two times in a row, but it did :)

On Friday night we invited our friends Christine, Sas and Joe - as well as Sylvia, Dave and Paul, to our place for some pre-drinks. It was rather random as I wasn't too acquainted with anyone, but it was a great group with awesome energy and a fun vibe. I couldn't believe how fast the night was going by! 

We arrived to the venue around midnight, and it was really packed - about two times the amount of people as in December. The set-up for these parties is quite neat with a full out stage, special lighting, and easy access to all areas. I think what I liked most about the entertainment were the dancers with glowing suits - well done, unique & a great added value.

Just as we arrived Paul van Dyk was getting acquainted with the decks, and the party was in full swing. While I understand and knew that PVD was famous for his trance, I was not expecting it to be such hard trance. It was a bit much at times with the beats per minute raging rather fast for my likings, but he often coupled it with the slower vocal tracks. There were plenty of drinks, dancing and socializing, and we were all having fun.

Me, Sas, Sylvia & Christine

As we had enjoyed the group back at the apartment, we invited the gang back for some pizza, music and drinks. Nothing like a bit of living room dancing! Again, I couldnt believe how fast the night had gone by, and before I knew it I had dozed off sitting upright in a chair in the living room. HAHA. classic Goodfellow right there. While we had no idea what to expect for the night, it was really refreshing - especially in Dubai - and Im looking forward to enjoying more of those in Dubai and back in Ottawa this summer.

xox <3 xox



Dubai Update: Dolphins!

Back in December for my birthday, I got a unique experience to 'Play with the Dolphins' in Dolphin Bay at the Atlantis hotel. I was beyond excited ! This was definitely something I had on my life "to-do" list :)

On Tuesday May 29th, 2012 we made our way to the Atlantis for our orientation session. A marine mammal trainer gave us a briefing about dolphins and their behaviours before we entered their waters. It was quite educational !
* Dolphins have approx 80 to110 teeth - if they lose a tooth, it is gone for life
* But with all those teeth, they don't chew their food - they swallow the fishies whole
* The best way to tell a dolphin's age is by dissecting a tooth, but only if one has fallen naturally
* Dolphins shed their skin every 2 hours
* They communicate through three sounds: frequency modulated whistles, burst-pulsed sounds & clicks

We then got into wetsuits, and waded into the waters to meet our bottlenose dolphin. Our group got to play with Alice ! She was a beautiful dainty dolphin with kind eyes. While we were 8 people in a group, we got to have individual play time. We each got to pet, kiss, hug & dance with Alice !
* It was pretty funny because when it was Aaron's turn to kiss Alice, she looked back at me and started talking - poor little Alice didnt want to step on my turf ! haha
* I myself was rather nervous when it was time to kiss her - she is afterall quite large with many teeth. But it worked out and a bit on the salty side haha
* The entire time I could not stop giggling, smiling and laughing. It is such an incredible feeling to be so close and get to play with a dolphin :)

Time flew by so fast ! Before we knew it, it was time to head back to the shore and say goodbye to Alice. I was nearly in tears - so happy to have played with a dolphin but so sad to have to leave. Had I been good in sciences, I would have loved to become a marine mammal trainer !

* Ever since I was little I have loved dolphins. My parents used to take me to Marine Land in Niagara Falls, and I remember vividly watching the whales and the dolphins in the various shows. I had always wanted to be picked to interact with them - but not once was I chosen. Although one time, when my Dad and I were there during a quiet day, we were the only ones there and got to throw a ball back and forth to the dolphins in the tank. It was one of those precious moments that Ill never forget - along with this magical day of playing with Alice.

If you're interested in the dolphin experience for yourself, check out the Atlantis' website for the different packages they offer (http://www.atlantisthepalm.com/marineandwaterpark/dolphinbay.aspx) Yes, it's a tad bit on the pricey side, but it's a once in a lifetime opportunity that I would definitely recommend :)

After our dolphin experience, we played in the Aquaventure waterpark. They have quite a few great slides to try! My favorite was the "Shark Bite" - I think it's called - and after going down the slide on a tube, you end up going through an aqaurium tunnel with tons of fish swimming around you. I was really impressed with the park for a few reasons:
* there was a lot of shaded areas so we werent overexposed in the sun, very clever.
* there were conveyor belts to take people up the hill to the top of the slides so you didnt have to drag a tube up or walk on hot asphalt/stairs
* really friendly staff everywhere to help and guide you

Overall, it was an amazing day !

xox <3 xox

Dubai Update: April 2012

Helloooo!
I cant say that I have been overly inspired to blog this year... the inspiration & motivation has been lacking, and often times I find myself looking at a blank screen, and the ideas and words just dont come out. So my apologies for no updates or very few posts this year, I do intend to start up again as there are so many wonderful things to write about :) This post will consist of various random Dubai news updates, and is dedicated to the memory of Saffron.

Saffron:
Yesterday, I had to say goodbye to our cute little fluffy hamster Saffron. The vet suspected that she had a stomach tumor, which are apparently quite common amongst hamsters. With that in mind, we knew it was her time as we didnt want her to suffer. Saffron had a great life and we enjoyed our time with her. RIP little one.

Obi
In other pet news, Obi has settled in nicely, and is such a great kitty. We love him so much, and enjoy our moments with him. He has become rather mischievous at times, looking for trouble at every opportunity available, but it's all kitten fun & keeps us laughing, especially when the catnip is out.

Zumba Fitness:
The gym that we joined offers many workout classes so as a resolution to get fit, I started trying out different classes. This led me to discover Zumba Fitness!!! After one class, I was hooked & wanted to know more about anything and everything Zumba. Soon thereafter I discovered that a Zumba instructors training course was coming to Dubai, and without hesitation, I signed myself up. The training course was done with Hermann Melo, and it was an amazing 2 days - lots of new information acquired, lots of Zumba dancing, and lots of fun! I have now started practicing the materials we were given as I have also signed myself up for the Zumba instructors Level 2 coming up in May. Ive even come to love the Zumba clothing - they look 80s inspired in bright colours, but are a blast to wear.
If you havent tried Zumba, I highly suggest you try a class! More info can be found at http://www.zumba.com/ where you can find classes near you, and generally get more info about it.  

Kenyan Student Sponsorship
I have sponsored a student to continue on to secondary education at the Olympic Secondary School in Kenya. Alex is 15 years old and resides in Kibera, the largest slum of East Africa. This wonderful sponsorship program was established by my parents who recognized the need to help these students continue on to secondary education as otherwise they would not be able to afford it. In first world countries, we take education for granted, but these children desperately want to go to school and further their education as it's really an opportunity for them to get out of the slums. When my parents asked if we wanted to sponsor a child, we were thrilled to participate.
* Does this sound like something you would be interested in supporting as well ? If so, GREAT! For a donation of $350 CDN, a student gets one year tuition paid including their books, exams, uniforms and shoes. In addition, each child has been set-up with an email account to correspond with it's sponsor. We can't wait to hear from Alex :) It's sad to think that we spend that kind of money on going out or buying new clothes, but this is money well spent on providing a child with a future. Every single penny donated goes towards the child!
* As a side note, the Rick Goodfellow Golf Invitational is fast approaching in Ottawa Canada - which is in support of the Olympic School in Kenya. If you would like to participate, donate money, or sponsor a hole, please let us know asap - it would be immensely appreciated!!! Please help support a great cause :)
More info available at http://www.rgicharity.com/

New Career Opportunities
At the beginning of April, Aaron and I decided to end our working relationship together. It wasn't something I was passionate about, and for that reason, I wasn't giving it my all. While I am still helping him with his inquiries, admin work and videos, I am doing a lot of self-reflection to see what I would like to pursue in order to build a lasting career. The answer is still vague, but I am considering a few options still in the early stages so Ill share in another update...
I did interview with Emirates Airlines to be The Face of Emirates at their international events and press releases, but it was not for me... The position was for single ladies, and companies in the United Arab Emirates can discriminate based on age, looks, nationality and the likes. So when Emirates announced that the ladies chosen had to live in Emirates apartments with other girls, this job was no longer viable as the wedding is 4 months away, and living away from my husband was not an option. It was a good experience though !

Ottawa Visitors
On April 26th, my Mom and her two sisters Guylaine & Line will be arriving in Dubai for a 10 day adventure. We are so excited to be welcoming them! This will be Line's first transatlantic trip ever!!! Lots of fun activities in store :)

Wow, so how was that for an update ? Hope you enjoyed reading ! Keep smiling :)

xox <3 xox

Obi, The Cat

Growing up, I always had pets around - from birds, hamsters, cats, dogs, and horses. But when one lives abroad the logistics of owning a pet gets to be a trickier when traveling and relocation come into play. While I had a hamster Safron, it's just not as interactive as a cat or a dog. So, my solution was to join a great cat adoption program called Feline Friends (http://www.felinefriendsdubai.com/), and we would become kitty foster parents. Stray cats and animal abuse are quite rampid here in Dubai so we figured it would be nice to help the little kitties in need :) And, we both love cats so much!

Obi came to us last Wednesday February 29th in the afternoon as a shy 7 month old black & white kitten with big green eyes... but it didnt take long before he was exploring our apartment, and getting to know us. And within 24 hours, he had us wrapped around his little paws and we considered him part of the family.

Obi was found at the young age of 2 months, along with his mother and 2 brothers by Feline Friends as they had been abandoned. Since then, his family members have all been adopted, and unfortunately, Obi has had three other foster parents in 5 months :( This is baffling as he is such a great kitty!!! As for his name, Im not sure why he is called "Obi", but it comes from Nigerian origins meaning "heart". The movie buffs and Star Wars fans are probably thinking about Obie Wan Kenobi; and the rappers out may be reminded of Obie Trice. Nonetheless, it's a peculiar name that suits him. 

Favorite Toys: stuffed lion & mouse toys, but his favorite is tossing our potpourri arrangements all over the place while we work, and then chasing after the leaves on the ground! the rustling drives him nuts :)
Favorite Food: fish & seafood wet food, stinky! He also loves drinking water straight from the tap, and then playing in it and splashing everywhere
Favorite Treat: biltong (dried beef jerky)
Favorite Activity: hamster watching... Obi & Safron have become good friends :) Obi enjoys keeping Safron company next to her cage, and making sure she doesnt get stuck in tight spaces in her hamster ball.

Obi has claws and as a kitten he accidentally scratched us a few times. It wasnt enough to really hurt, but we were slightly worried about the furniture when he was left alone. But, we found this GREAT solution called SoftPaws - they are little coverings that are glued onto each front claw with non-toxic glue, available in various colours. They last about 4-6 weeks, and the cat doesnt really notice them. Obi is sporting the white SoftPaws as his beginner trial pair :)

Simply fallen in love with this cat, and cant imagine daily life without him. While there are still adoption formalities to finalize, we are pleased to announce that we will be keeping him!!!
Welcome to our family Obi :)

xox <3 xox