Happy Moments: A Quick Text That Made Me Smile :)

I know quite a few people who have been posting up photos and moments lately to promote celebrating

the happy moments from their everyday life. Lots of people have told me after committing to do it that it actually made them appreciate the little things more in life and that they really enjoyed doing it and did not want to stop after they reached their target goal or total.

I have been super stressed lately with the sudden change of moving plans and the implications for my career (etc.). Yesterday I posted a really trivial email that made me feel really happy during my stressful day. Moving back to small town Nova Scotia scares me quite a bit because I am such a big fan of travelling and new adventures. That email from TripAdvisor reminded me that in small town BC (Trail) I have managed to discover new things and that I can continue to see the world and travel from Greenwood or wherever the new chapter in my life takes me.

The text that put a big smile on my face today! 

I have LOVED living in BC. Trail, Castlegar and Nelson have all been such welcoming homes and I am so happy that part of my story has been written here.

One of the best times during my year in the Kootenays was while my friend (fellow StFX Alumni and now NSCC Grad) Tom Unwin visited and interned at our station. It was one of the most stressful times, Christmas is radio’s busy season and I was hosting my show while co-hosting the Morning Rocks. We had our major promotion “Miracle Marathon” and so many events within the community but still had lots of fun!

During Tom’s time in the Kootenays for his radio internship there were amazing acts touring, The Stanfield’s swung by one of the first nights he was here and then The Tragically Hip’s Paul Langlois stopped by while promoting his solo album. Both nights were great, but Paul happened to be visiting on a weeknight. I had to be up at 4:30am the next morning so that night I decided to man-up and pull an impromptu all-nighter.

We had an amazing time full of stories about crop-dusting and big leaguing at the show and then made our way from the Spiritbar in Nelson to Finley’s for some late night grub and tunes. It just so happened to be Karaoke night. While everyone else continued to booze, I plowed down some food. Tom and I belted “Paradise By The Dashboard Light” for the twenty people in the bar and then being the solo star that Mr.Unwin is he took to the stage to sing a song we all should have been able to guess (but could not) Loverboy’s “The Kid Is Hot Tonite”.

It was a killer night. I’m not sure I have ever been more tired for a day at work. When we finally got home to Trail I dressed myself and slept for 45 minutes on top of my bed sheets until it was time to get up and go back to Castlegar.

We had many great nights; most involved a community event and then apartment food and beer pong. These are some of the best memories I have made in my tiny little apartment and as I pack everything up I am constantly reminded of them. Mostly because I keep finding ping-pong balls everywhere…

Here is a photo from that night, I look like crap due to the long-ass day (to be honest with you I looked worse the next day). Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your perspective) the photos and video of our Meatloaf tribute are not available at the moment and maybe lost forever. Here we are with The Hip's Rob Baker, we were "big leagued" by Paul Langlois  for good reason. Our interview with Paul has also gone missing, strange... 

UPDATE: Reddit Secret Santa

UPDATE: Reddit Secret Santa

When I signed up to take part in Reddit’s world-record attempt for the largest Secret Santa I went in with the understanding that I possibly not receive a gift from the person I was matched with. First, let’s note that the person you are matched with is not (most likely) the person you will be sending a gift to. I was always prepared for the outcome that left me gift-less, which is what ended up happening.  

Click here for my initial post about Reddit’s Secret Santa.

Today I received a great mid-January surprise, a message from my new Secret Santa! I think this is the sweetest message I have gotten in a long time! It has definitely been worth the wait! I can’t wait to see what this lovely family has sent my way. I think this is much cooler than having BillGates as your Secret Santa (and that is pretty freaking cool)!

Here is the message from my new Secret Santas!

I will keep you posted and let you know what my Reddit Secret Santas have sent me when it arrives. Yay, two Christmases! 

Here are the final totals (thanks to Reddit Gifts) for the Reddit's 2013 Secret Santa Exchange!

Kate's Christmas Card 2013 Winner

Don't you just love him? 

Okay, this is the second last Holiday-ish blog I will write until December madness crops back up in 11 or so months.  Yesterday I sat around my apartment, welcoming the New Year by cleaning up the old crap that just sits around. Unfortunately, it got me thinking about nixing all those Christmas cards. Each one made me smile as I opened my mail box, I really love receiving them but my table shrine  (I was pretty lazy and dressed up a fold out table rather than a tree this Christmas) has got to go. I hate the idea of tossing all these mementos of Christmas 2013, my first away from home; but I hate the clutter. Also, I come from a long line of hoarders and I really want to nip that habit in the bud.

What do you do with your Christmas cards?

I thought I would also take this time to acknowledge my favourite Christmas card from 2013, it was from my Nanny Bruce and I absolutely love it.

Seriously, I have this little guy pinned above my desk at work. He is the Christmas Card 2013 Champion. Why do I like him so much? Well, he is golden. The best (okay, just my favourite) color of dog, he has the most adorable puppy-sized scarf around his neck and he is not just walking in the on a freaking mission. This guy is trudging through the snow to get somewhere. No effort was made to have a happy puppy on a winter walk; this pup is just like us humans; dressed for the snowy conditions but still not happy to be out experiencing winter weather.

I would love to have this little guy in my home, I like to think he is dashing off to an important place to accomplish monumental things. That is the expression on his adorable little face and I love it.

Okay, I may have gone a little too deep with analysis of this Christmas card. But, I do truly love it. Props to Grandmother MacDonald and Ashley Ettinger for also playing the pet cards this year, they were a close second and third.

Thank you everyone for your Christmas cards! I am already looking forward to picking a favourite for 2014!

Kate’s Favorite Things: Pinch Provisions ‘Minimergency Kit’

I love stockings, growing up we always got four stockings, one on Christmas Eve night when “Santa” would stop by my Grandmother’s house and each of us grandchildren would sit on his lap and be given a large man’s foot worth of candy, underwear, hygiene products and usually one cool thing to put a smile on your face. The next stocking would come Christmas morning after Santa had visited our home, this stocking would be filled with more fun items and candy.  The next stocking would come a little later in the day at our Great Grandparent Kinney’s house, usually these stockings were a little more boring than the first stocking and the only really interesting part would be to see who would get the coolest stocking (they were rotated around for a while until eventually each great-grandchild had a name on their stocking, killing the surprise). The last stocking of the Holidays would come on New Year’s Day with all of the “leftovers” from Santa’s Workshop or maybe some pretty sweet Boxing Day sale deals to ensure everyone ended up with the things they really wanted for Christmas.

Again, I love stockings. I love Christmas. This year I only was on the receiving end of one stocking. I filled a stocking for my boyfriend with all of his favorite things and his parents sent a stocking back from Calgary with him for me.

This was one amazing stocking; my boyfriend’s mother may just be the Queen of Stocking Stuffing. Everything in it was gold, including one of my new favorite things.  The absolutely brilliant Pinch Provisions Minimergency Kit (For Her of course).

Every item, big or small, was wrapped in this stocking so when I got to the ‘Minimergency Kit’ I had to stop and read the entire listing of exactly what it was, pure genius. The ‘Minimergency Kit’ truly is mini, measuring in at 3.5” x 2” x 2” and is home to 17 beauty and personal care items.

Here are just some of the emergency items included in this amazing little bag (pictured to the right):

-Breathe freshener

Picture from http://pinchprovisions.com/

-Floss

-Clothing mending kit (yes, a kit inside a kit)

-Lip balm

-A tampon

-Hair spray

-Clear nail polish

Yes, the Minimergency Kit is a BIG help for those tiny emergencies that seem to ruin everyone’s days. It is a little silly how confident it makes me feel just having it in my purse.

Naturally, loving my Minimergency Kit as much as I do I had to check its mother company our online, Pinch Provisions. They also make emergency kits (in mini and full size) for men, teachers, moms, back to school, hooking your wedding party up before the wedding, brides, grooms and sending your kid off to college (there may even be more).  They even sell refills for your kits too!

I think this is the perfect item to put in a stocking; it is one of my favorite things from this Christmas and an all-round brilliant idea from Pinch Provisions.

To find your future emergency solution visit Pinch Provisions here.

Christmas Eve 2012: Merry Christmas From My Deathbed

That is what I would have said to you last year; being that it is Christmas I thought it would be a goodtime to reflect on last year's Christmas. Lots of people have told me how bad they feel that I had planned to be alone this Christmas. Well being alone is much better than the 48 hour sickness that hit me last Christmas. As much as I would love to be with my family for the Holidays, I hope to never turn into a helpless wreck over Christmas again. I seriously have never been as sick as I was last Christmas Eve/Christmas Day.

Last Christmas I was so sick with a bug this Instagram photo shows how I was propped up at my Grandparent's house on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day after an embarrassing incident that truly took me back to childhood or pushed me into old-age, it was decided I could be left home alone for Christmas Day rather than carted around to my Grandparent and Grandmother's houses. I would give you some sickness details but I am saving them for my book, it involves being incredibly stiff and immovable like a giant rock.

One thing I am very thankful for (though it was not a full-on traditional Christmas for me last year) is that was with family (and great dogs) last Christmas. I would be the most miserable person alive right now if I was sick like that again this year, I ended up returning the favour for my family taking care of me. My Boyfriend came down with the same gross sickness exactly a week later on New Year's Eve. On a side note, I would kill to have a dog right now, my entire night would have been spent dressing it up and taking pictures of it as if it were a small child. 

Mitch is in the box before the present is out of it!

This Christmas Eve has been spent, debating ordering Chinese food, watching Holiday Specials from the 90s, opening presents a little early and Skyping. A solid night and it is only 7:20pm! First I Skyped my lovely family in Nova Scotia and got to see them open their present from me. My Christmas gift to the Bruce Household was a Margaritaville machine, so they can have the tastes of the Islands at home! In typical kid fashion, my youngest cousin Mitchell was in the shipping box before my mother could even get the machine out. 

I then got to Skype my Boyfriend's family after they got home from church in Calgary. The Skyping is pretty fun, but I don't have much to talk about here. I am WAY more interested in what they are doing! 

The lovely flowers in a massive Christmas tree bulb sent
by 'Nova Scotia' aka Dad & Grammie.

Now I am off to continue 'Jingle All The Way', I had begun a weeping tribute to the Bruce familyChristmas the other day at work. My plans then changed and I was kind of left not knowing what to do with my previous words. Without the juicy details on a MacDonald-Bruce Christmas I was just about to get into, I think I will finalize that blog and roll it out tomorrow. 

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Eve (and Christmas in general of course)!

Shake the Tree: Finale on Morning Rocks

We broke a record this morning on Morning Rocks. John and I played 'Shake the Tree' three times!


Here is our final winner for the 2013 tree shaking season, Rick. Rick managed to clear the prize tree out taking home a crazy Christmas haul. A big thanks to all of the prize sponsors and Maglio's for powering our prize tree this year. Until next December our tree is still and pristine (as a Christmas tree should be).

Viral Video: Peanuts Inspired Flash Mob in NYC

Check out this awesome video from New York City where the team from Mashable put together this
Peanuts style flash-mob. This is the latest video in my collection of viral holiday videos this year. I am not a huge fan of Peanuts, even as a kid I didn't really like Peanuts but the theme song takes me back to getting ready every morning for school and listening to the radio (hoping that school would be cancelled). 

Thank you Mashable for your dose of Christmas Cheer!

George Longden on the 32nd Annual Community Christmas Dinner

If you are like me and have no where to be Christmas Day for Dinner you should head to the 32nd
Annual Community Christmas Dinner. It sounds like a great event and a huge tradition for the Grand Forks community, this year Greenwood reisdents are welcome (as your community dinner is not happening this year). This is a massive accomplishment for the community of Grand Forks, it is put on completely by volunteers. Oh... and I almost forgot to mention Santa will be there for the kids! 

For more information visit the Mountain FM events page listing here. 

Viral Vid: #XMASJAMMIES the Best Holiday Video of the Year

Holy crap I love this video!

I am not sure I have seen a better Christmas video this year and there have been a lot of viral Christmas videos so far this Holiday season. To be honest with you, until this video gets to the shameless plug for their new business I think this video is my favourite viral vid of the year. I am pretty jealous that my family does not have one of these videos (and that I’m not in Iron Man 3). It is also a pretty good reminder that I need to pick up some #XMASJammies, that is one Christmas tradition from Nova Scotia that I have ignored while here in the Koots and I am definitely missing the warm and fuzzy comfort of new Christmas PJs. Skyping home on Christmas Morning would be a little lame in sweatpants, Christmas Jammies are now on the top of my to do list. 

I’m going to outright say it, in a year that is lacking Holiday movies this is my favourite Christmas production of the year, hands down.  

Secret Santa Struggles

I am going to be honest with you; I am starting to get a little sour about spending Christmas alone here in the Kootenays. It is my first Christmas away from home this year and I thought I would be able to combat my case of the lonelies on the 25^th with indulgences that include (but definitely are not limited to) Chinese food and Christmas movies. The fact is I started to realize just how bummed I am to be missing out on adult beverages with old friend

s, getting out skated by a bunch of kids that were in elementary school when I played hockey at the Annual MRHS Grad hockey day and watching the kids in my family exhibit all the magic of Christmas with crying (yes, I mean tears) and shrieks of joy.

One of the ways I am combating this lonesome Christmas is by taking part in the World’s largest Secret Santa. Now I am at a loss for picking out my gift. I have no idea what to buy my nerdy/athletic/gamer male match. I want something unique, but I am starting to struggle. John Helm and I have contemplated what to buy for our significant others on Morning Rocks, so it makes sense that I am struggling with buying something for a complete stranger. What the hell am I to buy? Here is a little about 'That Canadian Bacon'

I could go with the listener’s idea from this morning’s show, he suggested picking up a ‘Clapper’ for the person who you don’t know how to shop for. What do you think I should send my Secret Santa buddy? Let me know your thoughts by email at kate@mountainfm.net!

UPDATE: I totally ended up finding the perfect gift for my match, something he can use Sunday afternoons while cooking his girlfriend lunch that compliments his neediness with a great Game of Thrones pun!

I will keep you updated about what I end up getting in exchange!  

For more on my Reddit Secret Santa experience click here.

KMART's 'Show Your Joe' Commercial

American retailer KMART is taking some heat for their new Joe Boxer Holiday commercial.

KMART’s recent commercials have been some of my favourites. In radio school you are forced into copy-writing classes to learn the art of writing great commercials and the strategies behind good creative writing. Naturally I fell in love with KMART’s ‘Ship My Pants’ commercial (below) the first time I saw it, every time I watch it I still lose it laughing at the old man’s line, “I just shipped my bed.” Seriously, it is up there with the panda cheese commercials (also below).

This holiday season KMART has released a new commercial for Joe Boxer boxers with a string of hunky men performing ‘jingle bells’ like never before and I love it! Seriously, I think it is enough to warrant a KMART comeback for all us Canadians who will be forced to sit around waiting for this gem of an American commercial to come on American channels feeds. Not because it is sexy, actually the more I think about it the less attractive I find all the studs in the video, but because it is funny. Yes, I understand why some people are offended by video and even why people think it is in bad taste but it beats the hell out of all those Cellino & Barnes and University of Phoenix ads we are forced to watch all the time through American cable channels.

What do you think? Good fun? Should Vicky’s ‘Angels’ be the only holiday show offs on tv?

I am amazed it has taken this long for this to happen...

KMART’s ‘Show Your Joe’ commercial

KMART’s ‘Ship My Pants’ commercial…

The top ‘Panda Cheese’ commercials…