Dream: Lost in the woods

I’ve been having some interesting dreams lately, and it occurred to me that perhaps it would be interesting to record them here? Some of them are very strange, like the dream where batman was my real father, and I found a healthy baby in my closet of my old apartment. But today I thought I would start with last night’s dream, since it’s pretty straight forward.

I had a dream I was lost in the woods. It felt like Centennial park, but nothing about the place was familiar. I remember wandering. I also remember it being a film, where a clip would show the woods in summer, and then again in fall/winter with the dying foliage and grass. But I can’t remember much more. This is the first time I’ve had a dream about being lost in the woods. Here are some interpretations.

According to auntyflo.com dream dictionary

http://www.auntyflo.com/dream-dictionary/forest-or-wood

When you find yourself walking through a forest in your dream, this symbolizes that you are trying to hold onto something which has been lost, the reason your subconscious mind moves through landscapes in your dream generally means that you are feeling unsettled and insecure. In regards to the spiritual meaning of this dream a forest often symbolizes spiritual enlightenment as your soul is entering areas that have yet to be explored. It is important to recognize that you should be working towards what you want from life.

If it takes a long time to walk through the forest then it shows that you are trying to embrace a problem and find a swift solution. The key to this dream is to become wiser and better at situations that you encounter.

This seasons are also important if you find that the forest is covered in dead leaves if it is autumn it is generally signifies a relationship or something important you have come to an end.

Dreammeanings.com says

When you’re lost in the woods in your dream, it represents confusion and chaos within your life. It means that you’re currently facing a dilemma that has got you stumped. You’re not sure of where to go or what to do. This can be seen as a relationship, where you don’t know whether to pursue it or not, or just a general choice where you’re unsure of the impacts and the decision you wish to make. Being lost, can also represent your state of mind. It shows that you’re flustered and not in balance. You’re thrown off and confused about a few things that’s going on at the moment.

Take the time to relax, and evaluate the decisions you need to make in your life. Find where you are, and work from there. Even if you’re at a point in your life where you’re confused and don’t have the slightest clue on what to do, just keep moving forward until you see the road that leads you out.

I wonder what I shall dream tonight? Hopefully something with a happier interpretation.

Amy

Getting to know me!

Since my place of work is closed for the day due to a massive BLIZZARD!!!! I thought I would post a blog entry a-la 2005 livejournal style!

1: Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?
Closed! They be monsters in thar!

2:Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel?
Yes and then I keep them for a ridiculously long time but never use them until eventually I just throw them out.

3:Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out?
Out. I’m a starfish style sleeper, I need to spread out.

4:Have you ever stolen a street sign before?
I haven’t *goody two shoes*

5:Do you like to use post-it notes?
I could care less

6:Do you cut out coupons but then never use them?
Thats pretty much me! On the rare occasion I will use them before they expire.

7:Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of a bees?
Ugh, what? Neither. I guess a bear, because I can shake a stick at it or something. O.o

8:Do you have freckles?
I do, they were more prominent on my nose when I was a kid, but they have faded a bit. I have some on my arms and shoulders, and beauty marks all over the place. The sun has damaged me Wah!

9:Do you always smile for pictures?
Usually, yes. 😀

10:What is your biggest pet peeve?
People who eat loudly and people who don’t use their signal lights.There is more, but I can’t think of any more right now.

11:Do you ever count your steps when you walk?
No

12:Have you ever peed in the woods?
Probably years ago when camping.

13:What about pooped in the woods?
I dont think so. wat.

14:Do you ever dance even if there’s no music playing?
Yeah

15:Do you chew your pens and pencils?
Used to, but not anymore.

16:What size is your bed?
Double

17:What is your Song of the week?
Afterlife by Arcade Fire, tongue tied by grouplove, and the party line by belle and sebastian.

19:Is it okay for guys to wear pink?
Why not?

20:Do you still watch cartoons?
Not really, but once in a while I’ll want to watch some retro TMNT or other cartoons I watched growing up.

21:Whats your least favorite movie?
weekend at bernies. I saw that when I was a kid and just hated it for ever and ever. lol.

22:Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some?
Why should I tell you? ;p

23:What do you drink with dinner?
Water, or sparkling water if I am feeling fancy smanchy.

24:What do you dip a chicken nugget in?
I like a mix of ranch and Franks buffalo sauce. :p

25:What is your favorite food?
I have so many! I LOVE avocado, so tortillas with salsa and guacamole.

26:What movies could you watch over and over and still love?
Oddly enough the Austin Powers movies. I can also watch Clerks II and Jay and Silent Bob strike back over and over, as well as Waynes world. TV shows I can watch Being Erica and Dead Like me over and over too. I am sure there is more.

27:Last person you kissed/kissed you?
Andrew

28:Were you ever a boy/girl scout?
Nope.

29:Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine?
Maybe semi nude, but I doubt anyone would want to see my body in a magazine! AH! Erh, I should be nicer to myself, but in reality, the way things are, I can’t see it happening. lol.

30:When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper?
Probably last year to Kayla.

31:Can you change the oil on a car?
Not yet, besides, I think the dealership does that. O.o

32:Ever gotten a speeding ticket?
Nope!

33:Ever ran out of gas?
Nope!

34:Favorite kind of sandwich?
Grilled cheese

35:Best thing to eat for breakfast?
Eggs Benedict at Mike’s restaurant. Aaaaahhhh

36:What is your usual bedtime?
Between 11 and 12.

37:Are you lazy?
Probably,yeah, but I’m getting better. ;p

38:When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween?
It was either always a cat or a witch.

39:What is your Chinese astrological sign?
Dog

40:How many languages can you speak?
English, some French and some Japanese.

41:Do you have any magazine subscriptions?
No, used to be subscribed to Chatelaine. Considering a BUST magazine subscription.

42:Which are better legos or lincoln logs?
LEGO’S!!!

43:Are you stubborn?
Yes

44:Who is better…Leno or Letterman?
CRAIG FERGUSON OR JOHN OLIVER. BAHA

45:Ever watch soap operas?
Nope

46:Are you afraid of heights?
I don’t like them. I can get up on a ladder, but I wouldn’t be able to skydive.

47:Do you sing in the car?
AW YISSS

48:Do you sing in the shower?
Yup!

49:Do you dance in the car?
Ahaha, not when I am driving.

50:Ever used a gun?
No

51:Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer?
5 years ago? With family.

52:Do you think musicals are cheesy?
Yeah, but thats the fun to them.

53:Is Christmas stressful?
YES YES YES YES YES

54:Ever eat a pierogi?
I dont think so?

55:Favorite type of fruit pie?
APPLE and PUMPKIN

56:Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid?
Ballerina and Vet

57:Do you believe in ghosts?
I used to, but I dont think I do anymore. I believe in quantum physics and different planes of existence and perhaps crossing dimensions.

58:Ever have a Deja-vu feeling?
I’ve had triple deja-vu before!

59:Take a vitamin daily?
No

60:Wear slippers?
Yup. I has cute owl slippers.

61:Wear a bath robe?
Wearing one right now!

62:What do you wear to bed?
Nothing!

63:First concert?
Aside from Mr.Dressup, probably the barenaked ladies.

64:Wal-Mart, Target or Kmart?
Target

65:Nike or Adidas?
Meh

66:Cheetos Or Fritos?
Meh

67:Peanuts or Sunflower seeds?
Meh

68:Ever hear of the group Tres Bien?
No

69:Ever take dance lessons?
Yes, when I was a kid I took rap dance, ballet and jazz dance.

70:Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing?

Sheet metal. Because he took the course.

71:Can you curl your tongue?
Yup

72:Ever won a spelling bee?
nah

73:Have you ever cried because you were so happy?
Probably. I dont remember. haha

74:Own any record albums?
I think I have some at my mom’s house.

75:Own a record player?
No, but I used to have one of those small portable ones when I was a kid.

76:Regularly burn incense?
I have incense, but I dont use it regularly or at all really.

77:Ever been in love?
Yes

78:Who would you like to see in concert?
ARASHI!

79:What was the last concert you saw?
Matthew Good

80:Hot tea or cold tea?
Hot

81:Tea or coffee?
COFFEE but tea also has a special place in my heart.

82:Sugar or snickerdoodles?
huh?

83:Can you swim well?
I like to think I can.

84:Can you hold your breath without holding your nose?
Yes

85:Are you patient?
NOOOOOO

86:DJ or band, at a wedding?
I…don’t….know

87:Ever won a contest?
Nah

88:Ever have plastic surgery?
No

89:Which are better black or green olives?
BOTH, but mostly green.

90:Can you knit or crochet?
No, my grandmother tried to teach me but it never stuck.

91:Best room for a fireplace?
Living room, but bedroom sounds nice too.

92:Do you want to get married?
It happens when/if it happens. No rush.

93:If married, how long have you been married?
14 years together in Feb, not married. ha

94:Who was your HS crush?
I had a crush on too many guys. haha.

95:Do you cry and throw a fit until you get your own way?
no

96:Do you have kids?
No

97:Do you want kids?
No

98:Whats your favorite color?
Many shades of blue, I like orange and green as well.

99:Do you miss anyone right now?

my grandfather. always miss my papa.

Cinnamon soul cafe

My photos are a bit out of order because I had to upload them from my phone. In any case, its been a while since I’ve last posted. Sorry for the long wait. We are in the middle of winter here in the maritimes! Very cold the last few days, and lots of snow today!

On Monday my best friend Kayla and I took a ride out to Hillsborough, New Brunswick. It was my first time driving out there since I got my license. Lots of hills and curvy roads, there were a few times when the hair rose on the back of my neck. But we made it there and back again in one piece. 

I had a falafel wrap, it was super good. They use local ingredients, which is totally awesome. 😀 This wrap was delicious, I had already taken a bite before I realised I had intended to take a photo for the blog. Sorry! Below is the chai tea in a lovely mug.

Beautiful local art work, pottery and knitting is sold at the store too. I loved this piece so I had to take a photo. Inspiring. Maybe I will pick up the paint brush again soon.

And finally, their specialty. Cinnamon rolls with cream cheese spread. These are not like any other cinnamon rolls i’ve ever had, so moist and soft. I’m tempted to drive out to Hillsborough (when the weather gets better) just for the cinnamon rolls. I may end up buying a half a dozen! Delicious!So, if you ever find yourself in Hillsborough, NB, stop at Cinnamon Soul Cafe You will not regret it. 😀

So, I bought a car!

Andrew took this photo while I was at my mom’s house. It’s a green mitsubishi mirage and I love Love LOVE it ;p Now that I has my own car I can go to all the places! So far I’ve been to Shediac, Cap-Pele, Shimogue ,and Memramcook for Apple Picking at Belliveau Orchard.

I’ve had her for only over two weeks and I’m having a blast. If you asked me when I first started this learning to drive process if I thought I would have a car only a month after passing my driver’s exam I would say you were insane. I guess I really do get what I want when I put my mind to it. I should put my mind to things more often!

Next step, a house! I think. Now that I have the freedom to go places, my desire for a house has gone down a bit. Eventually I’d like to have one, but I can wait. Thinking of joining a gym with Andrew. We are used to walking everywhere, so I don’t want any weight gainage since I lost 40. Also want to get a costco card and buy in bulk as we now have a reliable way to get it home. ;p

For a while things were pretty blah. Not a whole lot of money coming in with Andrew in college, but now things are looking up! He is working now, but he just needs a job in sheet metal and we will be good!

Amy

Victoria park craft show

 

 

 

 

 

I didn’t take many pictures of the craft show this year. Most of the weekend it rained and it was cold. There really wasn’t much that I found interesting except for Donna’s folk art and a lovely mug (that my mother in law bought me for my birthday) I will have to find their card, I really love their work. They were at the show last year too, and I always loved their pottery.

Had a lot of fun visiting with family though, it’s too bad Andrew had to work all weekend, but he is determined to get as many hours as possible as we are playing catch up from his college days. As long as he doesn’t over exert himself too much!

Of course there was lots of fudge to be had! This time I had the pumpkin spice fudge, I loved it so much I had two. Not very good for my scale, but it was sooo good. Also had mary brown’s chicken for the first time! VERY good!

Next weekend is the Sussex Flea market. Ah, the events that mark the end of summer (for me) are all happening, it seems like it was only just spring just a few weeks ago! Where has summer gone?

Vacation and family reunion

 

 

If I could describe this past week with only a few words it would be:

lobster feast, beach, family, fun, wine, memories,  and goals achieved.

 

 

 

My mother

 

 

 

My cousins and I.

 

 

Mother-Daughter selfie

 

 

 

 

 

Stills from the reel of my grandparents wedding in 1961, and later that same year of my grandmother and mother. Lobster feast with great uncles and aunts,  and second (or third?) cousins, and a nice pic of Andrew and my mother. 😀

A cousin of my grandfather’s family had left a bottle of Irish whiskey with my grandmother. She had told him she would keep it for him when he comes back to visit. Unfortunately he had passed away this year. So as a tribute to him, my grandfather who had passed 12 years ago, and to their parents (my great-grandparents) we had a toast. My sneaky grandmother took a drink from the bottle when most people were not looking! (She never drinks by the way)

The whiskey was really nice, at first it makes you wince, but then this burst of warmth rises up to your chest. I can understand why people used to use it to warm up from the cold in the old days.

Had a blast, I hope to see everyone again very soon.

xoxoxo

I passed my road test

Well, my adventure in driving is almost at a close. Last year I decided I was going to get my driver’s license and on Friday August 8th I finally did! It was a long road. Often times it was hard to find someone to take me out, and with my instructor telling me I needed more time on the road it didn’t help my situation any.

So I would like to thank those who took the time to let me drive their vehicles, from the bottom of my heart. You’ve helped me tremendously! Also thank yous go out to those who have support me along the way. Driving was not one of my top priorities when I was in my early twenties, I thought that I would be fine by taking the bus, since I had resigned myself to always living in the city. As I grew older, more specifically as I entered into my thirties, I realised that I wanted more than just this. When I say that, I don’t mean there was anything wrong with my life per se, but I realised I was ready to take the next steps towards adulthood. I’ve always felt like that I was a good 5-10 years behind everyone my age, which I guess is true. I’m ready to move onwards and upwards!

With Andrew passing his block 1 in sheet metal  he needs to get to the job site, so he is working elsewhere until we can get some wheels! Which is why I didn’t say it’s all over yet, I still need to get a car to go with my nice, new, drivers license card.  Once we have a reliable mode of transportation then we will get Andrew fully licensed and we will be ready to rock and roll! Our next dream is to one day own a house, another thing I never thought I would have.

I guess it started when I first went to college, I was 26 when I applied. While in college I had the opportunity to go to New York City and Tokyo (and other cities), Japan. It was always a dream of mine to visit those places, and I did it! I think that’s when I first realised that I could make things happen for myself, and that I should never give up!

My first road test was July 4th, and really didn’t work out all that well. I was only just out of the parking lot and my examiner wanted me to turn left, across traffic on main street. (NOT at the lights) When the opportunity arose I took it, but my instructor felt that I was cutting it too close and directed me back to Service NB.

Yeah, I cried a bit. But this second time I had a really kind examiner, he was friendly and easy-going.

So, how it works is that for ONE year I cannot drive between 12-5am, I can have 3 passengers only, and I cannot have any alcohol in my system. (the min for regular drivers is 0.08%) However, seriously, I don’t plan on driving if I’ve had a drink. If I know I am driving I wont drink at all. It’s easy when Andrew doesn’t drink anymore these days, so I wont feel left out.  Of course, I have had family down this past week and the wine was flowing! AND Whiskey (but there is a story to that I will tell later)

My instructor snapped this picture for the school’s facebook page. YAY! FREEDOM! Many Thanks to Mike Bosse, my 4 months younger than me instructor.  Oh yes, I am proudly able to say I got my DL at 31 (and not 32, which I will be on Thursday) Just in time! Happy Birthday to me! ❤

 

 

Easy Coconut Chocolates

I saw this recipe on the Corn Crib Natural Foods facebook page and just had to give it a try!

Here is the recipe

1/2 cup Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil ( I just used the coconut oil I had, which is Carrington Farms, virgin, cold-pressed organic coconut oil that I got at cost-co for about $20)
1/4 cup Cocoa Powder (raw cocoa powder is preferred, but I just had regular cocoa powder)
2 Tbsp Organic Raw Honey (or sweetener of choice: maple, yacon powder, stevia), adjust according to taste (I used organic non pasturized pure honey that I got from Dolma foods for about $8)
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional, but I used it)

Melt the coconut oil and add the honey. Whisk and add the cocoa powder. Whisk occasionally while pouring into a silicone ice cube tray or silicone mini muffin tray. Makes 12. Cool for 30 minutes in the fridge or freezer.

I didn’t have anything silicone, so I just used my small muffin tin, and while they may not look pretty like the other pictures, they taste AMAZING. SO easy!

~<3

 

Apple Honey Tea

I was making some strawberry apple sauce and didn’t want to waste my Apple peels, last time I used the peels to make a jelly, but I wanted to do something different this time. I did a search and came up with a recipe for Apple Honey Tea! Nom!

Joy in My Kitchen

Very Simple to make, and very little ingredients!

~6 apple peels
3-4 C water
1/2 tsp. cinnamon (or 1 cinnamon stick)
1 T honey
1 T lemon juice

Check the blog out to find out how to make it.

I find that mine had a very mild apple flavour, and the cinnamon and honey are not too strong either. It works very well. ADDED BONUS my apartment smells AWESOME! Definitely something I am going to make when Autumn rolls around.

{Book Review} Snakes and Earrings by Hitomi Kanehara

I have so many books that I have finally decided to sell them, or at least try to sell them. I am so attatched to all my books, it’s so hard to part with them. I love the way they look on my shelves, the way they smell (old and new books have their own distinct smells) and I just like to look at them. Problem is, unless the book really grabbed me, I won’t be reading them again. And so they end up sitting there on my shelves, collecting dust while I collect more! My shelves are oberflowing with books.

Before I sell them or give them away I decided to do little book reviews on the ones I remember reading the most, that way it might not be so hard to let them go. You may notice that a lot of them are about or related to Japan. That is because for a long time I was really into everything Japanese! It really only started to go away after I went there in May 2011 with a good friend of mine. It seems like thats just what I needed, because after that It felt like I was able to allow myself to find new interests including Yoga, Essential Oils, Doctor Who, Gardening, Downton Abbey, British Culture, Reading more Classic literature, and becoming interested in my own Maritime Canadian Heritage.

All that being said, I really can’t write reviews, maybe I will get better the more I do them, but I want to write a little bit about each novel before I let them go. 🙂

The first novel I will be reviewing is Snakes and Earrings by Hitomi Kanehara.

I remember really liking this book, and being excited that I was able to read a translated from Japanese book. At the time that I read this I had not read many books my Japanese authors, so it was pretty exciting for me, who was pretty obsessed with the country at the time. While fictional, it was still able to depict a part of Japanese underground culture that I did not know a lot about.

The narrator is 19 year old Lui Nakazawa, a girl from a normal family, described as a “Barbie Girl”. She meets Ama at a club, following him home the same night and moving in with him immediately. She is drawn to his forked tongue and tattoo’s, and decides that she herself would like to have her tongue forked too. She arranges with Ama’s friend, Shiba, to design a dragon tattoo for her, and ends up having an affair, which causes a whole lot of shit to happen.

It is a really short book, and an easy read. Some people say that they did not like it because the writing was simple, or it could have been lost in translation, but this also was Hitomi Kanehara’s first novel.

There is a feature film that stars  Yuriko Yoshitaka as Lui, Kengo Kora as Ama and Arata as Shiba. Shun Oguri and Tasuya Fujiwara also has a role in this movie too! So if you don’t feel like reading the book you can always watch the movie!