Caption this challenge: Wedding bliss

On December 2, 2016December 2, 2016 By thestampsinmypassportIn Uncategorized1 Comment

wed2

I am not married. I have never been to a bridal show. Many bridal showers and weddings, but never the `show before the show`, until this past September. I will say that I am happy that I am old enough to know that when I may get married I will never go to one of these shows.

Our office participated in a booth for the Bridal Show at the International Centre this fall. Let’s just say walking in to find the booth, I was instantly overwhelmed and felt wedding nausea without even being a bride. If you have attended one of these events, you may know what I am talking about. Or not. Maybe you loved every minute of this wedding show madness, who knows. Maybe I am just too old for it.

Rows upon rows of event venues, tuxedo rentals, travel agencies, hotels, bakeries and accessories. More accessories than you could ever imagine in one place. The booths are overwhelming. Of course they want to showcase the “ultimate” wedding displays which from a sales perspective I totally understand. However, “if” I was a young bride to be, coming with my entourage.

Let’s call it what it is. It is all about getting you on their email marketing list. I am well aware of it working in sales and at my own booth as well. There are people that are professional trade show goers. They print their own labels so that they don’t have to waste time filling out ballots at every booth where there is some sort of giveaway. Having worked at many shows over the years, I always get a chuckle at that.

wed The entourage is a whole other part of the experience. Mothers of brides who want something different than the bride. I spoke to one bride who had just gotten engaged the week before. When I wished her congratulations, the mother very obviously rolled her eyes. Mother “not” approved, it appeared to be. Why bring her to a bridal show where you are clearly excited to be planning your nuptials if your family isn’t on board. That is something in sales you need to stay as far away from as possible – family drama. Every situation has it.

I will end this with one last comment I was surprised about – where the food samples? I would have thought there would be bakery samples, food tastings, etc. We had an Inn across the aisle from our booth who was making this risotto which was a great sample, but other than that, there wasn’t much. No cake? No cupcakes? No truffles? I did stop at the LCBO travelling wine truck and sampled some wine (of course) but that was it. Tales of a classic foodie.

Thanks for sharing in my stories. I would love to hear your comments on your bridal show experiences if you had one.

Live your best life,

Lisa

Caption this challenge day one: The waterslide

On December 1, 2016December 1, 2016 By thestampsinmypassportIn Uncategorized1 Comment

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People are different on vacation. Everything about your day to day life changes. It is a wonderful thing. I never take that for granted. I know that I enjoy sleeping in, eating when I and whatever I want, chatting with new people and more importantly, having experiences that take me out of my comfort zone and help me grow.

I had once such moment on my cruise this past October. It wasn’t exactly my shining moment in the sun, which also made me tell my friends that this experience will never leave the ship. Well, guess what, it has and it will today in this post. It was mortifying while it was happening, almost brought me to tears (who am I kidding did bring me to tears) but now I am over it and it is hilariously funny.

I don’t remember ever going down a water slide. I mean, not just recently, but ever. I have always been a bigger person and the thought of not being able to get all the way down the slide was something I would never want to attempt.

There was a slide on the cruise I was on. It wasn’t a big slide by any stretch, but for the first few days I watched my friends go down and they had a great time. They kept asking me and I kept saying no thank you.

I must have had a few too many mango margaritas but I finally said yes. There we were, four grown adults waiting on the stairs mixed in with a whole bunch of much younger little kids. Up to the top I went, waiting and froze. I had no idea what to do. Sit down, give a push and go. Seemed simple enough. Held on to the bar and pushed and away I went.

I had no idea what to do. I was sitting up and that wasn’t really working so I laid down on my back. The water was rushing down my face and it was so relaxing. Yes, until I realized that the slide was not that big and why was it taking so long to get to the bottom. Well….you had to BE MOVING to get to the bottom.

Yes, there I was in the middle of the slide enjoying the water rushing down my face, but that was about it. I sat up and all my friends were yelling at me from the top. Mortified – hell yes! Not at the bottom but somewhere in the middle of this not very big slide.

Somehow got to the bottom and then my friends followed. Laughing hysterically at my situation. I, on the other hand, didn’t see the humour in the experience. It was my nightmare coming to reality. After I told my friends we will never discuss this again, I thought to myself that I shouldn’t be embarrassed I should be proud of myself for doing something that scared me.

Lessons learned:

I will probably never go on a water slide again. Been there, done that, check.
Being with your friends and people you trust makes it okay. You are safe.
It is okay to try something and not like it.
Your comfort zone does have boundaries, but it is okay to step outside of the lines. You may even enjoy it, or not, but either way you will be just fine.

I wonder what I will attempt on my next adventure. Stay tuned to find out.

Live your best life,

Lisa

Harmony of the Seas

The Perfect Storm

20 Seconds of Courage

On October 8, 2016 By thestampsinmypassportIn Uncategorized2 Comments

torah For the past two years I have been celebrating the High Holidays at Beit Rayim Synagogue. It was the first time that our family attended services together, which made the experience extra special.

When it is time to take out the Torah’s for the Torah portion of the service, Rabbi Zionce has a special method for the fifth Aliyah of the service. For the other honours they are done in the Shule by a lottery system so more people can have the honour of the prayer. He saves one for someone in the sanctuary, maybe a new member, non-member, newly Bar or Bat Mitzvah.

I watched the crowd of about 1500 people on the first day and how people seemed shy to volunteer for the honour. Someone finally did and the service continued.

The second day when it came time to ask for volunteers, I found myself throwing up my hand. The Rabbi looked over at me and said sold to you, come up to the front seats. I think I shocked my mom (myself as well) but there I was, committed to being the fifth Torah honour that day.

Each time the prayers were read by the people ahead of me I said them as well awaiting my turn. I was working through the melody in my head thinking that I am not just saying to myself at my seat but to the whole congregation. I admit I was pretty terrified but what could I do, I had committed to it. When it was my turn I went up to the centre of the auditorium and kissed the Torah with the Cantor’s tallit and began to sing the blessings. Before I knew it, it was over. The fear before stepping up to the ‘stage’ was gone and out came my voice. I couldn’t really hear myself but my mom said it was a beautiful voice.

I walked back to my seat with my family. My mom smiled at me and gave me a hug and kiss. She was so surprised that I volunteered. I remember a scene in the movie We Bought a Zoo where the dad is telling his son that all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage and that is exactly the way it felt.

I know that my niece will become a Bat Mitzvah this coming February. I will be beaming along with her family and friends as she celebrates this special milestone in her life. Maybe I will have another opportunity to be blessed with the honour that was bestowed upon me this past Rosh Hashana.