Tag Archives: Blogging

Run Parise Run!

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I recently got interested in fitness, well, running. I was always active as a kid but is was always team sports. I went from ice skating to gymnastic to soccer to tennis to snowboarding and many more on the side but when I graduated high school I stopped everything. I moved to Moncton,  NB and started University. I was to shy to try for the soccer team so I thought I’d stick to simply running around the neighborhood. And well, I eventually got bored with just running around with no specifics goals. I would stick to my routine for a month and then stop and repeat. I would always end up stopping, even when I moved to Montreal.  WHAT IN DA WORLD would help me stay motivated to keep on going!?

Remember this cheesy post of positiveness? In the last paragraph I said I was beginning to train seriously. It was only the beginning so I didn’t know if I would continue or stop at that time. Well guys, I didn’t stop! YAY me! It’s stupid but the main thing that kept me from going on was a small app on my Iphone called 10km. It gave me goals for each time I went for a run and I think that’s what kept me running. Oh and the positiveness all round too.

In November when it was too cold for me to run outside, I decided that it’s not the weather that’s going to stop me. So i decided to invest in a gym membership. I went with the nearest walking-distance gym from my place called Energie Cardio. Right from the beginning the guys at Engergie Cardio were just simply awesome. They were all so nice and the place is super clean with nice equipment and locker rooms. I met somebody that wanted to know my fitness goals(marathon) and she explained me the prices. I was pretty open to anything so when she explained me the bonus of having a personal trainer, I was IN! I mainly wanted to learn how to use the machines, some fitness exercises,  how to do things, in what order and what I was doing wrong. I was scared that if I didn’t take a trainer I would get unmotivated and bored because I really didn’t how everything worked beside the treadmill(Boooorinnng). So a week after I met my trainer and she made a program that I can adjust each time I improve and she explained to me how to do everything and especially how to train. Having a program, goals and seeing result each week made me happy so much and it kept me motivated until this very day..

Wow, sorry I wrote a lot. But what I meant to say is that my trainer in the beginning asked me what was my goal and I said that for my short term(1 year) I wanted to be able to run 10km. She said: no problem, I promise you, by march you will be able to run the 10km. I laughed at her. Now she’s laughing at me. She was right. With her program, dedication and hard work, within 3 months I was able to run a 10km! How amazing is that! Not much for a lot of people but I’m pretty proud for someone who always stopped. Now that I reached my first goal, I’ve got new short term and long term goals.

I know some people that was able to do it without a trainer but just sayin’ it’s a great investment. So this summer I am looking foward to run the 5km for Color Me Rad(SO FUN!) and in September I’ll try to do 20km for the Oasis Marathon(eeekkk!).

Oh and here’s some random photos from the past couple of weeks.

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{Macarons from Point G}

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{Brought a french press for work. Fresh coffee every mornings!}

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{Spring is calling}

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{My new business cards}

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{Secret show from Groenland}

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{Passion Pit at Metropolis}

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{Maroon 5 at Bell Centre}

{Maroon 5 at Bell Centre(last one, promise)}

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My lovers

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This is it. My lovers. Like I already confessed to you readers, I wouldn’t be able to separate myself from these beauties. My instruments are what keeps be grounded and real(because I’m so unreal sometimes…(sarcastic(had to specifiy))). It reminds of what music is all about and what I AM all about(lol). I first touched a guitar about 10 years ago and since then lots of things happenned in my life. If I really think about it, if I didn’t learned how to play guitar I would’ve miss on a lot of things and experiences I went through in life. It’s a way of expressing how I feel, like most musicians I guess, but it’s always personal. It’s nothing super exceptional to play an instrument, everybody can learn how to play, but the exceptional thing about them is the way YOU feel while playing that song you like or that song you wrote. Such joy…

Now with work, blog, working out, and life, I have less time to practice. I still try to make time during the week to pick up my guitar but I used to practice 2-4 hours a day, 7 days a week. When I was studying in classical guitar at the University we HAD to practice that much time to perform at our best. It was demanding but very fun.

The last the last show I did was pretty satisfying. I don’t think I will ever be that lucky again. It was 2 years ago and only a few people know this already but I had the amazing opportunity to play guitar in front of  200 000 people for the National Holiday of Quebec at Maisonneuve Parc. Pretty cray-zey. It was only for one song but what a rush! All I could see was people everywhere, like a big sea of people… The best thing of all is that I was surrounded by amazing artists from Quebec. Including artists like Paul Piche, Dumas, Yann Perreault, Marie-Mai, Guy A Lepage, Les Trois Accords, Dubmatique, etc… I am so grateful to have participated in that show. Big thanks to my teacher Ali who plugged me in. Anyways, these are my dirty instruments that makes my life more amazing.

{Acoustic: Takamine Jumbo, G Series EG523SC}

{Classical: La Patrie, Etude}

{Electric: Epiphone Lespaul}

{Beaver Creek Ukulele}

Locals – Little Stella

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Just after discovering them, I saw that I missed their last show last Sunday at Casa Del Popolo in Montreal and I was so disapointed. I will need to catch them next time they come in town because Little Stella looks like they could be the next big thing in Ottawa after the released of their second EP called Little Stella. I know, I know we are only supposed to write about artist when they just released something but guess what!? It’s my blog and I decided to write about them because I couldn’t wait until they release something else. They’re just that good.

As a follow up to their debut EP Songs for Spain, released in August 2011, Little Stella new EP holds 5 songs that catches your attention into their world. They started with a first class ballad, the song Woods, which I think is the highlight of their EP. It begins with a joyful strumming on an acoustic guitar and a some sliding notes on the electric guitar. The harmonies are tights, effortlessly layered and support well the lead singer while he stretches his notes througout the song. It makes it very beautiful and melodic. The song is completed with something I haven’t heard for a while, a great simple guitar solo full of soul. My second favorite is the second of the EP, Bluff, and it strangely reminds me of some Sam Robert with the pop rock guitars, catchy lyrics and vocal melody. At the bridge of the song they layered some other percussions and a flute on top of the bass drum and it feels like we are walking through the jungle. It adds a different aspect that show the variety of their sounds and their capacity to bring other elements. On the fourth song the lead singer comes with another catchy pop ballad with an emotive strong voice. It’s the kind of song we would hear on the radio.

Througout the EP, Little Stella brought earthness and strenght and we can hear their determination and potential to go further. Although they are thight as a band, they seemed to be still exploring their own sounds and direction. I think they should keep on exploring the full harmonic potential to bring the same feeling from Woods to the other songs. I can’t wait to see them evolve but for the moment, Little Stella is definitely an EP to own. You can purchase it here.

Oh and for those of you who are in Ottawa tomorrow, they are playing at the Mavericks at 8:30pm.

The Versatile Blogger Award

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Okay, I am sooo excited! It’s the first time in my blogger life that I received an award! And to say that at the beginning I was afraid no one would read my blog… I’ve come a long way and I hope to continue like this. I developped the love to write and it’s a great place to express and show you what I enjoy in life. I want to thank the beautiful Emily for the mention and selection in her lovely blog. She is ssooo talented! When I visit her blog I just want to buy everything. It makes me want to have baby’s to just play dress up! Okay no. Too far. Sorry. But here’s the link to her blog called Emily Play. Okay so here’s the rules…

1. Thank the one who has nominated you.
2. Put the logo of the tag in your post.
3. Tell 7 things about yourself.
4. Then nominate bloggers that you like for this award.
So yeah… this part I don’t like so much. I need to tell you 7 things about myself. Akward.
1. I’m a ninja at heart.
2. I own 5 guitars, 1 piano, 1 ukulele, 1 tom-tom, 3 harmonicas and I wouldn’t seperate myself from them for anything.
3. I’m clumsy and akward in real life. I’m not that cool.
4. My favorite movie is the Biography of Charles Chaplin.
5. Never been on an airplane. But I plan to change that really soon. One of my goals in life is to travel a lot. I mean, a lot.
6. I day dream a lot and ask myself too much questions.
7. I wish to have a house next to the water some day. Or a loft.
Few, that is done. Okay so, now I have to nominate 15 blogs. 15!!! Sorry but I will only select a few. I don’t read a lot of blog actually but here we go..
A Pretty Penny: She is SO cute with her little flower shop and she has a great sens of style that keeps me inspired.
Chameleonic: First, she’s also canadian, 2 hours away from me. Second, her photos and her style is just incredible.
Walterjameswilde: From Montreal and always at the top of her games when it comes to new trends and fashion.
Consequence of sound: A good music blog.
Skinnytaste : I follow this blog everyday. She post healthy and delicious recipes.
Cupcakes and Cashmere: She’s the superstar of every blog.
Funky Frais: Because my friend is cool and he’s knows what’s up. It’s in french though…
I think that’s enough. Anways, thank you again Emily!!:) You would deserve it a second time!