Jul

3

My Birthday Wish List

Written by Kate. Filed Under birthday, summer | 5 Comments 

Scott’s parents are cleaning out their basement and in the process we get the random things that Scott accumulated in his childhood. So far we got a large collection of tapes (Jimmy Buffet, Dance Mix, bird sounds etc), an old guitar and a box of random papers and things. In the box I found many things that made me laugh, some until I was crying. Let me tell you some examples…

- a cookie recipe- Scott was so excited to find this cookie recipe because he says it makes the best cookies, what kind of kid (boy) saves a cookie recipe!? Anyways that’s not the funny part, I read the ingredients and came across something I could not make out and I asked Scott what it said, “chips” he replied after glancing at it, I started laughing my head off, Scott had spelled it ‘cips’ and there is no way I would ever have been able to figure out that that is what it said! Scott’s not the best speller in the world.

-I also found a salad dressing recipe, which he was REALLY excited to find.

-And then I came across a notebook, the cover read ’stuff to by’, and following on the first page was a LONG list of things that Scott wanted to buy, and if he got them he crossed them out, lets just say that not very many things were crossed out. Here are some examples:- mini touch lamp, 1 more N64 controller, Banjo-Kazooie, a door lock for room (if allowed) [crossed out!! hahaha I wonder if this is because he wasn't allowed, or if he got it], beanie babies, 12 function computer [anyone know what this is?], a Canada bond. The list goes on and on with many other things such as lots of speakers -40 watt, 30 watt, 100 watt and 50 watt [he must have had large music plans]. Let me tell you I was laughing so hard as I read this list out loud to him, I don’t think he got what was so funny. What a funny boy! And as I write this he’s outside making a ball catcher contraption out of wood and canvas, I’ll let you know how it turns out.

And since my birthday is the next of all the five blondes I present to you my birthday wish list! Just a few things that I can think of that I would love to be presented with on my 23rd birthday (on July 31st! The middle of summer).

  1. A bike helmet, so I can feel safer when I am biking.
  2. New irons for golfing, because mine are so very old, and last time I took lessons (in university) the instructor said my clubs are dead. If thats not a good excuse I don’t know what is! Plus Scott got me a new putter last year and my old clubs are brining my golf style down. haha
  3. New clothes, oh yes new clothes. I feel like I need to be on a makeover show because many of the clothes I wear are years old, and really should be replaced. But I guess thats what happens when new clothes are not on the top of your priority list!
  4. A pretty pie plate! I love me some homemade pie especially when I can bake it in a cute dish!

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5 Comments >>>

Jul

2

Best Canada Day Ever!

Written by Erica. Filed Under life | 10 Comments 

Happy (belated) Canada Day!

As you can probably tell, we took yesterday off to celebrate Canada’s birthday. Lauren went up to Ottawa, Kate went to a baseball game, Micaela went to check out a house in Windsor, Leah wrestled with Ikea furniture in Calgary (I suspect), and me? Well, after cleaning the house a bit, D and I went to the local casino.

Where I won $600.

CA-CHING!

Let me preface the rest of my story with this:

  1. D and I go to the casino maybe twice a year. Yesterday the movie Ocean’s Thirteen was on - you might say that it ‘inspired him’!
  2. I only go because he goes. I usually lose money (never more than $20, I have my limits!). He usually comes out on top.

OK, enough with the prefacing. On to the bragging!

Most of my winnings came at the second machines that we sat down at. Up until that moment I was down $10 and not really wanting to spend more. D had won over $100 (did I mention that he’s pretty lucky?) and I was thisclose to convincing him that he could buy me new shoes with his winnings. OK, not really, but I tried…

I looked at the “Diamonds and Devils” machine, glanced at my engagement ring (especially shiny and glittery as I had it cleaned the day before), and decided that this? Was my game.

I popped in a twenty and on my fourth or fifth spin, three diamonds lined up on the screen and the lights started flashing! “$512″ was outlined in bright blue and the numbers kept goin’ up. OH YES, I thought to myself. New Shoes! New Dress! Restock all my favorite bathroom essentials!

Karen Zambos Vintage Couture Reversible Tank Dress

…and then I was reminded that our rent was due.  New dress, purse, and general lovely things will remain a dream for now!

10 Comments >>>

Jun

30

Why Every Single Woman Should Thank Annie Reed { Super Wonderful Guest Post! }

Written by Erica. Filed Under Guest Post | 8 Comments 

Aloha, dear Five Blondes readers!  Today we present to you a Super Wonderful Guest Post! all thanks to the 20-Something Blog Swap.  Enjoy!  You can find me (Erica) hanging out at Brandy’s blog, It’s like, I’m…mmmagic!

I’m guesting posting here (hi! My name is Brandy and I’m usually found at “It’s like, I’m…mmmagic!“) and always worry that I’m going to turn readers away of the blog I’m guest writing at with my unnecessary swooning over movies from the 90’s. I suppose if I was REALLY worried about turning off readers I would pick something less controversial to discuss, like abortion or the death penalty, but nothing gets hearts racing and blood pumping like talk of movie classics (or movies completely overrated and so cheesey they threaten to kill the lactose intolerant audience).

Which is why I must talk about “Sleepless and Seattle” .

I believe the world can be divided into two groups,- those who love this movie, and those who despise it and think that kid Jonah was whiny and was way too young to be hanging out with Abby Hoffman. Thankfully, I fall into the first group.

Now, I have a confession. I didn’t always love the movie. In fact, the first time I saw it, I HATED it. I thought it was completely unrealistic, glorified love, and forced Meg Ryan to spend 105 minutes looking desperate for a man she didn’t know. I ranted about how pathetic it made her look, how clueless they portrayed Tom Hanks and how unstylish Annie’s wardrobe was (I know it was the 90’s but seriously? Her nightgowns are horrendous).

As a single girl, I was wary of movies featuring the dynamic love duo of Meg and Tom. I dutifully avoided Sleepless in Seattle anytime I saw it- not ready to allow my heartstrings to be pulled, my world to be given new and dangerous hope. “Sleepless in Seattle” was the poster movie for everything I wanted and didn’t have- Annie’s voluminous hair, Sam’s cool house, and a perfectly timed and storybook romance.

Time went by. I fell in and out of love, discovered that love is never what I thought it would be. I broke hearts and got mine broken. I waited for love to knock on my door, for the man I couldn’t find to waltz into my life easily, and softly like a breeze that’s to be expected.

And then, TBS had a Meg and Tom marathon and I re-watched “Sleepless in Seattle” and saw the movie in a completely different light than expected.

As a single girl I relished the hope that Annie Reed held close to her heart. The guts it took for her to fly across the country to see a man she never met, the courage it took for her to leave Walter- a man who wasn’t wrong for her, but just wasn’t right either. I loved how expertly they wove Annie’s doubts with Walter with the love she felt for him. It was the first movie I ever saw that showed me that a man could be perfect, but not perfect for you- and if he wasn’t, it was okay to let him go. I liked that it showed me that Annie would always be wondering ‘what if?’, if she hadn’t showed up, risked looking like a fool, gambled with her heart. And as a single girl, it was the first time I saw confirmation that sometimes hoping for the perfectly ridiculous, completely unattainable, so right-for-you-it’s-almost-scary man can pay off. Because sometimes- if you’ve stored enough karma points (or you’re making a multi-million dollar film)- it happens. It happens.

A reader once asked where the title of my blog came from- and the truth is it came from this movie. I loved the line Sam gives Dr. Marcia Fieldstone on why he loved his wife “It was like coming home… only to no home I’d ever known… I was just taking her hand to to help her out of a car and I knew. It was like… magic“.

Though I’ve yet to meet a man who makes me feel like I’m “coming home only to no home I’d ever known”, I like the idea of it. I like the idea that sometimes love isn’t complicated, or riddled with angst- sometimes love is easy and simple. I like the idea that you can achieve something wonderful through something as simple as helping someone out of a car. I like the idea that a cornball movie from the early 90’s had me question everything I wanted, and confirmed truths about love I was too scared to question out loud. I like that until I find the perfect and ridiculous man who makes me smile, that the movie showed me that good things happen to those who take chances, and that I’m okay being my own “mmmagic” until I meet a guy on the top of the Empire State building- or at the grocery store.

I watch “Sleepless in Seattle” now, not afraid of it giving my single self dangerous hope- I watch it now because it confirms the hope I already have. That good things come from those who take a chance, to those who gamble with heartbreak while searching for the possibility of great love, to those who risk ridicule by saying what they cannot hold back.

And the soundtrack is pretty wonderful too.

8 Comments >>>

Jun

26

An “I Love You” I Will Always Remember

Written by Leah. Filed Under Calgary, cars, love, personal, relationships | 4 Comments 

Tim and I have been in a relationship together for two years, seven months, and nineteen days, and approximately sixty-five thousand kisses. We are a pretty affectionate couple, and tell each other how much we love each other about seven or eight times a day, give or take a million. I will always fondly remember the first time he told me he loved me, but recently I had someone say those three magic words to me that may have even topped the first time he whispered them to me. It was … get ready … his mother! My possible future mother-in-law. I wouldn’t say that Tim’s mom and I are especially close or anything - I mean, I think she is a wonderful mother, and a great and very kind person and has never been anything less than supportive of me and Tim, but having lived two hours away from her while in University, topped with the fact that I don’t spend too many holidays there (because I can’t bear to leave my OWN family) .. well let’s just say that Tim has been to the Bontje farm on many many many more occasions than I have been to his.

The morning Tim and I took off on our adventure of a lifetime together, Tim’s mom, Maria, made us a big brekky and had some of her best friends over to say godbye to Tim (and me, I guess!). Well, by this time the car was jam-packed, we were prepared for the worst gas-mileage Tims ‘94 Mercury Grand Marquis had EVER gotten, and Maria leaned over to me and asked me not to murder her son, but to be patient with him as he has yet to realize that I am always right, and told me that she loved me then gave me a huge big loving welcome-to-the-family hug. And I, well I just just stood there dumbfounded while fighting back the tears. But I gained my composure, returned the love and hugged her back really hard. It was such a special moment, one that I will always remember. If Tim and I ever take the big walk down the aisle (alongside Mic and Kent), I can know that my new family will love me and treat me just as well as my current one.

As soon as we drove away I turned to Tim and said “YOUR MOM JUST TOLD ME THAT SHE LOVES ME!”  Typically male, Tim looked at me confused and said … “So?”

4 Comments >>>

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