manda_faromeiro

90s Earworms: My Favourite Music from the 90s

August 9, 2019 manda_faromeiro

I had a blast reminiscing about all the 90s television, fashion and nostalgia, but I intentionally left out 90s music because I truly felt it deserved it’s own separate blog post. Music in the 90s was, weird. I remember thinking as a kid/pre-teen that it was just my taste in music that was weird because it seemed to involve so many different genres and styles, and maybe that is true, but then I find myself looking at all the bands and artists and think, music in the 90s was really trying to “find itself” and stand out. It needed to be different and offer something fresh, and I am sure there are thousands of blogs, articles and the like written that dive further in depth into the meaning of music in the 90s and what it meant to the culture and society at the time, but this is not that blog. What I mean is that when I think about some of the music I used to listen to growing up in the 90s, I laugh and say “that really was terrible, but I love it!” Like anything else, these artists, songs and bands are tied to great memories and in themselves are just nostalgia. So let’s load up that CD Walkman and get to jumpin’ around with some of my favourite 90s earworms.

SPICE GIRLS
Let’s just get these girls out of the way, because this group was THE GROUP of the 90s. Whether you loved them or just had a sibling who did, everyone knows the Spice Girls. I would be putting it lightly by saying I was OBSESSED with the Spice Girls growing up. Passionate and enthusiastic, I lived for any and all things Spice Girls. I remember I had 2 copies of Spice & Spice World because there was one copy that always stayed home and one that came with me in my CD walkman or in the car if my family was nice enough to let it play! From having concerts at school or in my backyard, to birthday parties, and basically anywhere, there was almost always a Spice Girls song coming out of me. How crazy it is to think of some of the lyrics… I has no idea what it really meant when “tonight is the night, when 2 Become 1.” To this day, there isn’t a moment that passes by where if I hear “Wannabe” “Say You’ll Be There” “If U Can’t Dance” “Spice Up Your Life” “STOP” “Who Do You Think You Are” or “Too Much” that I’m not passionately belting out the lyrics and trying to reenact the dance moves from the music video or movie. To be fair, doesn’t everyone just get up to dance and sing along whenever Wannabe comes on at a wedding or dance?

Before I move on to another group, I will do a small shout out here to bands like S Club 7 and B*Witched for also filling my head with catchy-ass songs like “S CLUB PARTY” and “Bring It All Back” as well as “C’est La Vie” “If It Don’t Fit” and “Rollercoaster” – but remember what I said about laughing and remembering how terrible the music was? Yeah… these are not songs I tend to revisit, ever, but 90s Amanda LOVED THEM! I had to include them because I rocked out to them pretty often too. I did like bands like Destiny’s Child but I wouldn’t say they were a favourite of mine, same thing with TLC as I felt with these groups it was more just a few songs I liked rather than being able to listen to an album from beginning to end.

Backstreet Boys & NSYNC
How could you possibly pick just one? Cue everyone who is loyal to the soil for BSB or NSYNC coming at me… bahahaha. No seriously though, boybands were the best in the 90s weren’t they? Some of my favourite BSB songs were, “Get Down” “We’ve Got It Goin’ On” “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” “Quit Playing Games with My Heart” “It’s Gotta Be You” and “Larger Than Life.” My BFF would be disappointed to learn that I only ever had 3 BSB CDS in my life – Backstreet Boys, Backstreets Back, and Millennium – but they got their share of playtime in my CD player! I don’t know if I could choose between only keeping BSB or NSYNC, because NSYNC had some great songs too: “Tearin’ Up My Heart” “I Want You Back” “Here We Go” and the BEST CHRISTMAS SONG EVER “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” – seriously though, did most people who weren’t young girls even know the difference between the two bands? BOTH were great and another awesome reason why we are thankful for the rise of the boybands- thank you 90s! We have their popularity in the 90s to thank for the reason why the early 2000s graced us with really great songs by both these bands. Oh, and because everyone is thinking about it as they read this, my favourite Backstreet Boy was Kevin (I liked that he looked mature and had things figured out- with Brian being a close second) and as far as NSYNC goes it was Joey (I value fun and goofy personalities – with JC being the hottie).

Just as I did above, I have to give a shoutout here to Hanson because they were not the traditional boy band – they actually played their own music. I really liked their music, beyond the classic “Mmmbop” I remember playing the album Middle of Nowhere on repeat many many times. Seriously, that album was great! “Where’s the Love” “Thinking of You” “I Will Come to You” “A Minute Without You” and even “Man From MIlwaukee” was hella-catchy!

Those, That’s SO 90s Groups
There is no other way to really categorize these next artists that are so totally 90s. I’m talking about your AQUA, Vengaboys, Ace of Base, Prozzak, Eiffel 65, Smashmouth- most of which are remembered for one or two really catchy songs, and then forgotten about. While this is partially true, I included them because these songs were total earworms for me: “Barbie Girl” “Dr.Jones” “We Like to Party” “Boom Boom Boom Boom” “The Sign” “Don’t Turn Around” “All that She Wants” “Strange Disease” “Sucks to Be You” “Blue” “Walkin on the Sun” and “All Star”- easily getting stuck in your head for days! I am sure I am forgetting some… These bands were fun to listen to and that’s all I really have to say about that.

The Bands
Now I get to talk about No Doubt, The Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, and Metallica, – the kind of bands that I really felt I got into because of the influence from my older brothers. I remember having No Doubt’s Tragic Kingdom album in my own collection, and most of everything else was borrowed from my brothers’ massive CD case collection- you know those MASSIVE ones that were kept in the car that held the discs in the sleeves but not the booklets? Yup. I found that Nirvana and Green Day especially would only make their way into my own CD player if I had the song stuck in my head from having my brothers play the CD so often and so I stole it from them and tried to give it back before they noticed. While I know that U2 was totally more of a 80s band, as that is when they started, I didn’t start obsessing about U2 until the 90s – obviously because I was older at this point but again because of the influence of my brother. I should have a separate section on this, but I won’t. I really love U2 and I fell in love with them as a band because Achtung Baby – yeah the album is way better than Joshua Tree! So I am including them in this 90s post because that album was released in 1991 and was the first album I ever “borrowed” from my brother and never gave back. Don’t get me wrong, I recognize the 90s was a WEIRD time for U2… Zooropa? POP? Remember when I said earlier about the journey of standing out and finding yourself, yeaaaaaaaah that was a strange time to be a U2 fan – but “Lemon” is still a favourite, a weird, odd, favourite. “Numb” and “Stay (Faraway so Close)” are songs I often return to and am glad to blare from my speakers from time to time.

Other bands I grew to love in the 90s also included Matchbox Twenty, Blink 182, The Offspring, Third Eye Blind, Barenaked Ladies (yes- the Steven Page ERA!), Hootie and the Blowfish, and Sugar Ray, just to name a few. I can thank Blink 182 for introducing me to punk-rock music and for inspiring some of my late 90s early 2000s fashion choices and desire to pick up skateboarding as a hobby. Matchbox Twenty is still a band I really love listening to today (and that more recently means Rob Thomas’ solo stuff- but still great!). My Matchbox Twenty favourites include “3 AM” “Push” and “Real World” – and some of their best stuff came in the early 2000s. When I think of Blink 182 I instantly hear “All the Small Things” “What’s My Age Again” and”Josie” – once again another band that had some great stuff come to follow these tracks in the early 2000s. Who could forget “Pretty Fly” or “Why Don’t You Get a Job” from The Offspring? Though, “Come Out and Play” was an instant favourite for me. I’m feeling SO NOSTALGIC right now! Thinking of the Barenaked Ladies songs gives me all the feels, maybe because this band was really one that my whole family liked? I can’t even name all the songs because too many of them would be listed here. Let’s agree that “Gordon” “Maybe You Should Drive” and “Born on a Pirate Ship” were good albums, but nothing beats “Stunt” (Maroon came out in 2000 so it doesn’t make the list!) When it comes to Hootie and the Blowfish, they were one of those bands I didn’t realize I liked until I noticed that the songs I kept hearing on the radio and liking were all by them – “Let Her Cry” “Only Wanna Be With You” “Hold my Hand” just to name a few. Sugar Ray fits into that category as well: “Fly””Every Morning” “Someday”- most of the tunes off of the “14:59” album.

I know I am surely missing some bands that fit into this category of rock, punk-rock, alternative style music – so please let me know if I missed one of your favourites. Before I end this blog post, I do need to squeeze in one last category of 90s music…

Rap/Hip Hop
Okay, so I was still a young kid in the 90s, but there are quite a few songs from this genre that I always remember, and still often listen to: “OPP” by Naughty by Nature, “California Love” by Tupac (I have my brother to thank for that as he is a HUGE fan), “Jump Around” by House of Pain, “Mamma Said Knock You Out” LL Cool J, “Doo Wop (That Thang) by Lauryn Hill – which I totally knew all the words – “Baby Got Back” – Sir Mix-a-Lot, “Ruff Ryder’s Anthem” by DMX, “U Can’t Touch This” – MC Hammer, “What’s My Name” – Snoop Dogg, and the song you loved and hated then loved again because it was so overplayed: “I’ll Be Missing You” by Sean Combs (you-know-before-he-was-P-Diddy), “I Wish” by SkeeLo, and last but not least, “The Next Episode” by Dr. Dre. Special mention to “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice because how he looked rapping is how I felt whenever I would be trying to rap along to these songs. Bahaha.

I definitely know I missed some bands, artists or groups from the 90s. I’d love to hear of some of the ones I missed that you love (or loved if you’re over them now) or ones that were popular that maybe you didn’t like at all? Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a CD to burn on my computer titled “Amanda’s 90s Favourites Volume 1.”

These are a Few of My Favourite Things: 90s Edition

July 24, 2019 manda_faromeiro

The release of the live action Lion King movie this past week really had me thinking about all the things I loved while growing up in the era of the original Lion King film. There are many things that set the 90s apart from other decades, but as I’ve learned the older I get, what is old will someday be cool again, at least for a little while. I thought it would be fun to talk about some of my favourite things from the 90s.

Movies & Television
As a young child in the 90s, there are many shows and movies I remember holding a special place in my heart and a semi-permanent home in my VCR. Of course, the 90s were a great time for Disney films: The Lion King, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Hercules, Beauty and the Beast, Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, and The Mighty Ducks just to name a few. Apart from Disney, there were also a number of movies I really loved growing up: Jurassic Park, Home Alone, TMNT, Dumb and Dumber, Space Jam, and Mrs. Doubtfire. Whether these films are special because of their nostalgic value, or if they are just really damn good, just thinking about them brings me joy. When I think of these films, I reflect on what emotions they evoke and the people I remember watching them with. Whether it be hanging out with my brothers watching Dumb and Dumber for the twelfth time, singing along to Just Around the Riverbend with my cousin, watching Home Alone at Christmas with my family, or acting out the fight scenes in TMNT, these films never fail to put me a good mood!

Just like film, there were many great television shows in the 90s that are iconic and special to me. I grew up watching The Simpsons, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Seinfeld, Full House, The X-Files, Saved by the Bell, Family Matters, Home Improvement, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Doug, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Frasier, Power Rangers, Magic School Bus, Married with Children – wow I really feel like I am forgetting some – television in the 90s was epic! Thanks to services like Netflix, it’s easier than ever nowadays to reminisce and rewatch all of your favourite shows from the past. I remember coming home after a long day of school, playing outside, and finishing homework to watching some of these great shows after dinner. Of course, I cannot forget Saturday morning cartoons! Ohhh the memories!

Fun & Games
Growing up in the 90s was a blast, much because of all the awesome toys, games and gadgets. Who can forget Sega Genesis and Sega Game Gear, Nintendo 64, Skip-Its, Super Soakers and NERF, Barbies and Polly Pockets; just to name a few. How about in gym class when the teacher let you play on those scooters? EPIC! Or when it was a Friday afternoon and you had some time to kill before dismissal so you played Heads Up-7-Up. Are you feeling nostalgic yet? I think it’s a safe bet that if you were a kid or pre-teen in the 90s you surely remember playing MASH with your friends. Lucky for me, I didn’t end up living in that Shack with Kevin from the Backstreet Boys…

Food
When I think about some of my favourite childhood foods and snacks I cannot help but laugh to myself because there were definitely some weird things that you clearly would only eat as a kid. Dunkaroos, Gushers, Warheads, Ring Pops, Pixie Sticks – what a rush! Remember how awesome it was when you went to a birthday party and got some of these wicked treats in your lootbag? In our house it was a treat when you got to have a Pizza Pocket, or even Jos Louis, or cereals like Fruity Pebbles and French Toast Crunch. Now I know that many of these things are still available in the grocery store now, but for me, they really symbolize growing up in the 90s.

Fashion
There is a part of me that wishes I was a teenager in the 90s so that I could have had more “creative” control in regards to my wardrobe. What I absolutely loved about the 90s was how much neon colours took over! As someone who adores colourful things, neon coloured clothing and accessories are my favourite. Some other 90s iconic fashion pieces were scrunchies, overalls, bomber jackets, and platform sneakers. You bet you can find most of these items in my closet today- and that brings me a lot of joy! When I think about fashion in the 90s I immediately think about The Spice Girls because I idolized everything about those fabulous girls. I recall begging to get some platform shoes and when I got a pair, I couldn’t walk around as casually as Scary Spice, but boy did I practice! Even if some of these fashion pieces weren’t back in style, you’d still likely find me wearing them nowadays anyway.

What decade is iconic for you? Are there things you loved about the 90s that I forgot to mention above? What are your favourite things from the 90s? I’d love to read your comments!

These are a Few of My Favourite Things: Summer Edition

July 7, 2019 manda_faromeiro

Summer is here, and in Ontario it seems to be sticking around (for now). We’ve had a few days this week that have been absolutely scorching hot (my thoughts to those who have to work outdoors for a living) but rather than focus on the heatwave we’ve all been craving since the second week of December, I thought I’d take a moment to sprinkle some positivity onto your internet browser and talk about some of my favourite things about Summer. These are in no particular order but rather are just some things that (in my mind) equate to a wonderful, magical summertime!

Cherry & Watermelon Season
Happiness is getting to indulge in both cherries and watermelon for about 2 months straight. Sometimes you can get these fruits at other times during the year, but they never taste as sweet and satisfying as they do between the months of June to August. These two fruits happen to be my favourite as well, so the summertime signals the prime watermelon & cherry eating season! SO GOOD! I could easily eat an entire watermelon in one sitting; especially after a full day of being outside or being active. If you are in the Niagara area, you’ll want to check out the nearby cherry farms where you can go and pick your own cherries. Many people also LOVE Strawberries in the summer, and while I’d love to agree, my allergy to them makes it impossible for me to enjoy them now – but I do miss eating them too!

Kayaking & Canoeing
Summer is short in Canada, and whenever possible, I love getting out on the lake in a kayak or canoe. While I don’t own my own, renting a kayak or canoe is easy when you visit most Ontario Provincial Parks. There is something incredibly peaceful about being out on the water, whether your paddling with friends or solo. If I had a cottage, I’d surely be out on the water almost every weekend. Instead, I’ll take as many opportunities as possible to kayak when I’m having a beach day or a planned hike at a nearby park. Since not every day in the summer is scorching hot, kayaking or canoeing is a nice alternative to swimming around in ice cold lake water or when you still want to be on the water and it’s an overcast cloudy day.

Evening Campfires
Summer nights have a slight edge over the daytime, and the reason is the campfire. There is nothing more relaxing than sitting by a nice toasty campfire in a sweater and leggings/jogging pants after a long hot summer day. Whether you’re a fan of s’mores or not, sitting by the campfire and indulging in snacks and great conversation always makes me smile. There is something calming about the crackling of a fire, and anyone who knows me knows how much I simply love the smell of burning wood; seriously though that post-campfire smell that lingers on your clothes is phenomenal. Suburban rules don’t allow for me to have a firepit in my backyard, but we do have a fire table – so when I cannot be sitting next to a campfire, it is the next best thing.

Baseball
Summer time means it’s Blue Jays Baseball season! I always loved playing baseball growing up, and have enjoyed watching it for many years. Some of my favourite memories of the summer are getting to attend Blue Jays games. I have also had the opportunity to travel and see the Blue Jays on the road in the summertime; Philadelphia & Chicago were two places I had the privilege of visiting to take in the sites and catch a few baseball games. Whether your a sports fan or not, I think attending a baseball game can be a lot of fun; the atmosphere is very welcoming and inviting, and it’s easy to get caught up in the fun. Of course, anything is more exciting when you have invested interest in the players, team and what’s going on in general, but with the right company, you’ll find a day at the ballpark can be a lot of fun! Playing catch at the park is really fun too, if sitting through a baseball game isn’t really your thing.

BBQs & Ice Cream
If Summer had a “smell” it would have to be the smell of food cooking on the barbeque. I don’t think anyone can talk about summertime activities and not mention a BBQ. Whether it’s hotdogs and hamburgers, chicken wings, ribs, corn on the cob, or grilling up pineapple there is always something to enjoy on the barbeque. On another note, ice cream is another food that is iconic with summertime. I know, you can get ice cream year round, but the best kind of ice cream comes during walks on the beach or at the waterfront, or a day at the park, or after a fun day playing outside. Again, summer doesn’t last forever, so let’s eat outside as much as we can, right?

All in all, there are many great things to love and appreciate about summer time. If you’re reading this from a place where it’s always relatively warm and your summer temperatures last longer than a few weeks, I hope you make the most of it! What are some things you like to do when the weather is hot? I think one of the things I like the most about summer time is how short it is. I know it sounds crazy, but the fact that summer is short where I’m from encourages me to not only make the most of the warmer days, but it makes me appreciate them more than I would if summer lasted 8 months of the year. Keep in mind, I am also a lover of sweater weather, layers, and while it’s not my favourite season, I do like Winter a lot! I appreciate living in a country where I can experience many seasons and can enjoy many outdoor activities whether the weather is hot or cold. But for now, less time inside, and more time outside I say! I’d love to hear about some of the things you love about summer: fishing, patios, bike rides, pools, beaches, hikes, blended beverages, air conditioning (hell yes!) whatever it is, let me know!

The Toronto Raptors are NBA Champions

June 28, 2019 manda_faromeiro

If you read my other blog post about the Toronto Raptors becoming Eastern Conference Champions and advancing to the NBA finals, you can only imagine the rollercoaster of emotions I experienced throughout the six games of the NBA finals against the Golden State Warriors. For those of you who know little to nothing about basketball, the Golden State Warriors are a team that has been the finals for the last 4 years and were defending NBA champions. I’m not going to go into immense detail here about the series but I just wanted to share my thoughts and feelings now that is has been a few weeks since that iconic and historical game six on June 13th 2019.

Before we get to June 13th, let’s backtrack just a few days before on Monday, June 10th. The Raptors were playing Game 5 and it was at home in Toronto; it was also my birthday. The Raptors had a chance to win their first ever NBA title and they had the chance to do it at home. The energy in the building was electric; I could tell this from the couch I was sitting on at home because even on the television it was LOUD so I can only imagine just how loud it was in the building, as well as outside in Jurassic Park. As per my previous blog, I love my birthday and it is always a special day to me, so just picture how special would it become if the Toronto Raptors won their first ever NBA title on the day of my birth? Insanity. I thought my heart was racing in previous games, but nothing like this. The game was a crazy bout of back and forth, the typical nonsensical calls from refs, but all in all exactly what you would hope for in a Game 5 with the chance to win the championship. The Raptors ended up losing that game by one point- not one basket- but one point; the final score was 106-105 for Golden State. My heart sank a little, especially because I kept thinking how magical it would have been if that 3 pointer Kyle Lowry shot at the last second went in and he was the one to secure the victory for the team he has poured his heart and soul into for so many years. It was devastating, but only for a moment. The Raptors have won so many games at the Oracle (where the Warriors play) they could definitely get it done on Thursday, and how sweet it would be to defeat the home team (and defending champions).

To be honest, much of the details of that Game 6 are a blur. I do remember being so anxious (in a good way) and my heart racing. I remember not being able to stay seated from the second quarter onward. I remember cheering so loud that my voice was giving out. I remember yelling and feeling so frustrated that all I could do was scream into my couch cushions. I remember tears filling my eyes when there was only a minute left on the game clock. I remember tears falling out of my eyes when there were only 0.9 seconds left on the clock and a play was in review for a potential foul. I remember sobbing like a baby when those 0.9 seconds ran out once Kawhi took his free throw shots and you could see the Raptors beginning to celebrate. I was crying and crying; I was so happy. Anyone who knows me knows that I am not much of a crier – but I couldn’t stop crying. I was truly so happy – and relieved. I say relieved because watching the entire playoff season was stressful, exciting, and emotionally (and physically) draining but in the best possible way. Staying up until 1 or 2 am to watch post game coverage, getting so invested and intensely engaged in the plays, shots, and games; every piece of it was exhilarating and historical. It was exhilarating to see a team that I had grown up loving finally make history in the best possible way. I couldn’t stop smiling for days and I genuinely was so proud and happy for the entire team. My facebook wall and instagram feed was filled with celebration pictures and videos – I couldn’t stop watching and I didn’t want the celebration to stop. History in the making and such an iconic moment. Oh, the final score was 114-110 for Toronto; the series was won 4-2.

The NBA Finals win was iconic and special not only because it was the first, but because of everything we as fans have witnessed and experienced over the last 24 years. I touched on much of this in my previous blog, so I won’t reiterate anything here, but it truly was such a journey to get here. My brother was lucky enough to attend the Champions parade on Monday, June 17th alongside approximately 3 million people; what a crazy experience! I loved watching clips on the parade and seeing all the videos; the support from the city and fans has been incredibly overwhelming and words cannot describe exactly what this means for any Toronto Raptors fan. Now that the celebrations are dying down and the serious talks begin about what key members of the squad will or will not return, I just have to say this: regardless of what happens I am thankful and grateful for the 2018-2019 Toronto Raptors team, and all of those who came before this legendary season. Should we ever repeat as NBA Champions, it will be wonderful to have Larry O.B. back on Canadian soil. Yet, should we never become NBA Champions again, nothing will take away from this emotionally exhilarating experience that was the 2019 NBA Championship journey.

Now would be the time to break out the salami and cheese!

WE THE NORTH. NORTH OVER EVERYTHING. WE THE CHAMPS.
*photo courtesy of MLSE on the Toronto Raptors Facebook page*

A Birthday Appreciation Post

June 17, 2019June 18, 2019 manda_faromeiro

For those who know me well, and even those who have only known me for 5 minutes, it’s not a secret how much I love my birthday! It is certain that I always have, and always will love my birthday. While most people say that once you run out of 20s, you’ll stop counting your birthdays, lying about your age, and even refrain from celebrating or making a big deal out of your big day, but I can say in my heart of hearts that this isn’t going to happen to me because I think birthdays are so important and every single one is worth celebrating. Let me rant a bit about why I not only love my own birthday, but birthdays in general. I just turned 31 on June 10th, and I had a really wonderful day; sorry for the delay on writing this blog! Hopefully you’ll think about your own birthday a little bit differently by the end of this blog post…

Remember being a kid and getting so excited about planning your birthday party? Whether it be at the local bowling alley, McDonalds (because that was a thing- even though I never had my birthday there), Chuck-E-Cheese, the movie theatre, a home party with your friends, cousins and family members, or even a sleepover with your pals or hanging out a local hotspot- whatever the place or case, birthdays were something to be celebrated when we were kids, so why does that mentality stop? Maybe we don’t need balloons and loot bags anymore, or even silly games (if that isn’t your thing), but why stop going out or staying in and doing something fun with your friends/family just because you’re an adult? I know that sometimes birthdays, like other times of year (like Christmas or Thanksgiving) can bring up rough times or memories for some people, but I think the purpose of birthdays is often forgotten. Your birthday is a celebration of you – you coming into this world and everyone in your life who is important to you should want to remind you of how loved and special and important you are. As a kid, celebrating your birthday was about hanging out with your friends and family and doing fun things. Yeah, it was also about gifts, because as kids that is how we think, but now that we’re older the act of gift giving (and receiving) means that someone wanted to get you something special, something that you’ll really like, or something that makes them think of you. Celebrating your birthday is a way for those in your life to make you feel loved, appreciated, valued, and cared for – and honestly, we don’t get enough of that in our life.

Remember how special you felt as a kid when all those people came to celebrate you? I don’t think that feeling should stop. Life is too short not to celebrate another year on this earth. Life is too short not to show those you care about that they are worth celebrating. I know that sometimes we can all have a bad day that turns into a bad month, that stretches out to a bad year. However, I think if we took the time to think about how a birthday is another 365 chances for changes, better days ahead, and/or new adventures, opportunities or things, we would all feel a little bit better (and make others feel better too). Your birthday is a chance to be a little selfish, and I think this is a good thing. The older we get, the more we become more giving towards others rather than ourselves; we become harder on ourselves for not making deadlines, falling a bit behind, not getting caught up or comparing ourselves to others in our own age group or whom we grew up with. We tend to do less for ourselves and more for others; this is especially the case if/when we have children or take on stressful jobs or careers. Ultimately, we can become very hard on ourselves, and when your birthday comes around, it should be a time to reflect on what you did accomplish, what changes you made, what lessons you learned, but also who was there alongside with you, what new friendships formed, or what old ones gained strength. Yes, you should totally be selfish on your birthday- treat yourself to a day at the spa, go out for that dinner, have not one but two scoops of ice cream – do something that day you don’t get to do everyday – and I REALLY encourage you to take your birthday off of work because who really wants to work on their birthday? You deserve a day off, even if you’re going to just stay in pyjamas all day – you do you!

I love my birthday because it is a reminder of my personal story and all the things I have had the privilege of experiencing in my 31 years of living. There are no guarantees in life, and without running the risk of sounding morbid or sad, birthdays are a gift that you don’t exactly know if you’ll be getting again next year. Life can get in the way. Many cultures see birthdays as a rite of passage, and depending on your background you may celebrate your day differently or some ages in particular are more important than others. My birthday is a celebration of my life; another year of changes, memories, ups and downs, adventures, and while it might not all be great, it is all part of the story that makes up my life. Being a generally positive person, it is easier for me to see the good that can come out of bad situations or circumstances, and I recognize that not everyone is like this; another reason why a birthday is a great reminder to someone of just how wonderful, valued, important and great they are – and that they can get through anything with love and support. My husband, family and friends make me feel very loved and appreciated, especially on my birthday and the more chances I get to celebrate with them is another chance to be thankful and appreciative of all the things I have shared with them.

As someone who loves their birthday, I make it a goal of mine to ensure that others in my life feel loved, valued, appreciated and special on their own birthday as much as I feel on my own. I understand that not everyone likes attention on themselves, so not everyone wants a big party or get together to celebrate another trip around the sun. I encourage you who read this to think about your own thoughts and feelings about your birthday. Reflect on some birthdays you remember that were fun, exciting, and really joyous moments. I am sure you can think of many. I also encourage you to think of some birthdays that maybe weren’t so great, and reflect on what happened to make it so; think about how far you’ve come from that point, what has changed and what new things have you been able to experience or see or do because of another passing year? A personal goal of mine is to encourage those who are close to me to love and want to celebrate their birthdays even more as the years go on. I think we all need a reminder of how important we are to those around us and that your birthday marks the day you were brought into the world to change the lives of those you’ve crossed paths with; whether you see it that way or not -it’s true!

I have had some incredible birthdays in my 31 years and I have my family, husband and friends to thank for many of them. Whether it be Spice Girls themed, running around a laser or archery tag arena as an adult, carnivals, road trips or vacations, and heck yeah – even getting engaged on my birthday – I have had many incredible birthdays and hope to have many incredible more!

My Journey as a Toronto Raptors Fan (and What the Eastern Conference Win Means to Me)

May 28, 2019 manda_faromeiro

Whether you’re a fan of basketball or not, I am sure by now you’ve heard the news about the Toronto Raptors advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. As someone who has enjoyed basketball since I was young, witnessing this moment was tremendously special, and I’ll elaborate on why…

I first started taking basketball more seriously when I was about 12 years old. I began following players, Michael Jordan of course, but also Allen Iverson. Then, I began to root for my teams, those other key players of the late 90s and early 2000s era, and made time in my schedule to watch the games on television, as well as those novelty events like the NBA All Star Game and Skills Competitions. I always rooted for the Toronto Raptors; they were the hometown team, I loved the jerseys, the colours, and while I was NOT a Vince Carter fan, I still cared about what was going on with the team. While my heart always belonged to the Toronto Raptors, I also really enjoyed watching and rooting for the Sacramento Kings (the Bibby, Webber, Stojakovic era was fun) and the Detroit Pistons – who could forget Big Ben Wallace, Billups, Prince, Rip Hamilton – I mean six consecutive Eastern Conference Finals between 2003–2008 is insane. These teams really put into motion my passion for basketball; I always enjoyed playing on my school teams and for fun with friends, but these teams made basketball just as exciting and fun to watch as it was to play.

Seeing the Kings and Pistons have success was exciting, as it always is when a team you like is doing well, but it never felt as good as seeing what successes the Toronto Raptors were having. The early 2000s were coined as the Vince Carter era, and while again, I didn’t care for him, it was great to see the hype about Toronto basketball. I loved seeing how Alvin Williams, Jerome Williams and Davis all played together, despite Carter getting injured in the later 2001-2002 season, and let’s not forget making the Raptors making the playoffs! These highs were contagious! Imagine how I was feeling when Detroit and Toronto faced off against each other that year in the first round? Watching two teams you like go head-to-head was an emotional roller-coaster; a win-win situation really, but deep in my heart, I always wanted Toronto to pull out on top – root, root, root for the home team, ya know? More importantly, there was something special about seeing Toronto rise up, building momentum, and have the potential to be as great as some of those iconic NBA teams – I mean they could be as iconic as the Lakers some day, right? The plight of the Toronto sports fan is always setting that bar waaaaaaaaaaay high at the beginning of the season and believing your team can really do it, despite having that bar fall down and smack you in the head year after year. This is just the narrative of a Toronto sports fan right? Well, there was still hope.

Once Vince Carter left Toronto with the tears of many fans carrying him away, what were we to look forward to as Raptor fans? Rebuild phase? Really terrible Win records? 24-58 anyone? Well, as a fan you knew the sun would rise again, and when Chris Bosh came to town, it was starting to look a little promising. The sun was peeking through the clouds. Personally, I was a huge Bosh fan and loved seeing him on the court. He definitely was the new face of the franchise, and he kept hope alive and entertaining basketball afoot. But then it got pretty terrible, pretty quick. Sometimes I cringe when I hear names like Bargnani, Calderon, or Garbajosa. Another struggling period, but it didn’t look like it was going to last for long. Why had I become so emotionally invested in basketball? Well, the truth is – it was exciting, captivating, and the ups and downs kind of made you wanting more. When your team is down, the only place left to go is up. In an interesting way, the journey of the Toronto Raptors felt very similar to my own experiences on my school basketball teams; for the 6 years that I played, we had some really amazing games and finishes, and other years we were absolutely terrible.

There were a number of years where I remember watching the Raptors and thinking, we definitely are not going to be in playoff contention this year, but let’s see how things play out. Sure, there were many uneventful or exciting games, but I always made sure to keep paying attention; things were going to change. I was sure of it. I appreciated the Raptors of 2007/2008 era; a team showing improved defense and above all else fantastic team chemistry. This is what I remember the most when I think about what kept me engaged in Raptors’ basketball; the team looked like they were really having a lot of fun out there and truly playing as a solid unit. I remember those 2007 playoffs well; it had been nearly 5 years since the team had won a playoff game but the momentum felt short lived when they ultimately lost to the Nets 4-2; to rub salt in the wound, Carter was playing for the Nets at the time- boo! Before long it was 2010 and we were rebuilding again… good things come to those who wait, right? How does one stick through all of these changes? MY EMOTIONS!

Moving along, when Bosh left Toronto, I was quite upset. I remember part of me was beginning to lose a bit of faith in what would be Toronto basketball. As I sit here and write this, I recognize that I am very emotionally invested in basketball even though it has nothing to do with me personally – bahaha – this is strange. I think I felt that Toronto would never be able to lock in an All-Star player for long because we were forever going to be left out of the NBA finals and continuing to miss every opportunity to win the conference finals. I didn’t want to give up hope, and I really wished for the best for Toronto; how many times can you get hyped up for playoff time only to be knocked out again and again… how many times you say?

Now this is probably getting to my most favourite era of Toronto Raptors basketball, and once again it has a lot to do with team chemistry. Demar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry were instantly fan favourites, and these BFFs were reminding us all how to fall in love with the game and your team. Without boring anyone with stats, this era saw Division titles in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018. It was great to see such success, but for me, seeing the team really have fun out there and being so great with the fans was so important. The Toronto Raptors of these years made fans feel like the city and its fans were priority, not the money they were making in their contracts. These years were exceptional years as a long-time fan, not only because it felt as though the rebuild years were behind us, but because of all the excitement that came from watching the talent. Remember Demar scoring 52 points against the Milwaukee Bucks? Seeing your home team succeed and making the rest of the league take notice was exhilarating! The Raptors were making history; 59 franchise record wins in one season! For the first time in forever, it really felt like the team was going to go all the way…

The devastating loss to the Cavaliers in the second round of the playoffs in 2018 was heartbreaking, and had many fans, myself included, questioning what was to be done with this team. For a solid unit of players putting up impressive stats in the regular season, we were falling short in the playoffs. Was it coaching? Was it nerves? Was it mind games because we had to keep playing against Lebron James? A lot of people demanded some answers, but it shocked the system when we found out that the Raptors coach, Dwayne Casey was fired in May of 2018. As a fan, I felt that one pretty deeply – I always felt that Casey really connected with the team and proved to the city that he always had our backs when we were frustrated with bullshit referee calls or whatever nonsense was pinned against us as the only Canadian team in the league. Just when I felt I had come to terms with losing coach Casey and eager awaiting to see who would take his place, another shock to my system took place. Demar DeRozan was traded from Toronto. This one hurt. It hurt bad. Demar loved the city of Toronto and the fans, and that love was reciprocated immensely. Demar wanted to stay in Toronto for his entire career, and loyalty like that is hard to find! The reason the trade hurt was also due to the fact that it was unclear how healthy Kawhi Leonard was going to be and what his future in Toronto was going to look like. As a dedicated fan for so many years, it wasn’t important to get players just for a championship title and then for them to leave when its over; it was important to see players investing their hustle and heart into the city, and most importantly showing the fans respect. Afterall, the fans are the ones putting asses in the seats and showing up to support the team, and Lord knows we did our share through the good and bad times.

I remember having a good conversation with my brother about the whole Kawhi situation. I always value talking sports with my brother because he sure as hell knows a lot, and as a Raptors fan he thinks more logically and less emotionally than I do. My brother laid down some stats and we discussed some possible scenarios, and after our conversation, I was feeling a little less frustrated about the situation, but was still keeping my eyes on Kawhi. Anyone who knows me knows I still am pretty defensive about it. Ultimately, I just want everyone to remember that while Kawhi is doing some very impressive things, there is a bench full of players hustling and doing some really great things too – and many of whom were in Toronto before Kawhi. I could go on and on about this…

The past year has been a rollercoaster of emotions as a fan of the Toronto Raptors. The last few years have spoiled us, as we no longer hope to make the playoffs, but expect it and we demand to advance past the second round. Lowry and the boys said it best in all their interviews; we are happy but we are not satisfied. With all the talks of what Kawhi, Gasol, Green and Lin were going to do for our team, coupled with the power of Lowry, VanVleet, O.G, and Siakam, I had incredibly high hopes that the Raptors were going to go full-force this playoff season. These playoffs were the most intense Raptors basketball that I have ever witnessed. Incredibly close games, buzzer beating shots, amazing teamwork and hustle, and with every shot another reason to continue loving and pouring your soul into this franchise. I remember hours before Game 7 was about to start against the 76s, reflecting on my own thoughts as a fan, and writing a post about regardless what happened that night that I loved this team. I truly felt that in my heart. A loss would be hard to deal with, but I wasn’t going to let that take away any amazing memories of this 2018-2019 basketball season. When the Raptors beat the 76s in Game 7, I screamed louder than I ever screamed for anything in my life. I had a few tears roll down my face too. The energy was electric and it was unbelievable to think that once again we were going to the Eastern Conference finals. Writing this blog, I can’t help but smile and laugh to myself because I cannot believe how much the team has really been part of my life; almost without realizing how long I’ve been watching and rooting for them; waiting for a time like this.

When it came time for the Raptors to play Milwaukee, my emotions continued to be all over the place. I didn’t want to get so close to that Eastern Conference Championship and get swept in 4 games. It is so hard to put into words how much I wanted the team to succeed, knowing that apart from being a loyal fan and supporter, it was completely out of my control. It is weird to feel so nervous and excited, like you’re the one stepping out onto the court to play, yet all you are doing is watching. It was so intense! The Raptors had worked too hard all season long to go out AGAIN. We had seen this narrative before, and it was time for a new chapter to be written.

To avoid sounding repetitive, I can’t put into words the energy I was feeling watching Game 6 against the Bucks with my friends. I literally could not sit down for the entire second half of the game; the jumping, yelling, screaming, cheering, falling to the floor in nervousness, all of it was incredible intense! With the final seconds left in the fourth quarter the camera man panned over to capture Kyle Lowry’s emotions as he knew that he and the team were going to the NBA finals and were Eastern Conference Champions; that camera man deserves a raise because we all felt that. So many years of being so close. So many years of being so far off and rebuilding. So many years of trades, hoping to find a unit that would not only be strong together but strong enough to get us to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. As the clock went down to zero and it was official, the screams and cheers and tears were all so real. Pinch me, I must be dreaming! The Toronto Raptors are going to the NBA Finals. What a time to be a fan! What a journey.

As we inch closer to Game 1 on Thursday against the defending NBA Champs, Golden State, the nerves go away a little more each day. I’m excited for what is to come of this series. I can’t imagine what it might feel like if the Raptors become NBA Champions. I’ve never witnessed or experienced this before, and that is what I like to remind myself. We may never witness this again. If that’s the case, we best enjoy the moment right now. Although as fans, we are happy, but we are not satisfied. I keep reminding myself of the years that came before this one; and it is part of the reason I wrote this blog post today. The Raptors being crowned the Eastern Conference Championship reminds me that dedication, time, trust, hustle make a difference, and together something great will come. As a Toronto Raptors fan, I have witnessed a lot of changes, a lot of excitement, a hell of a lot of frustration, confusion and unknowns, but ultimately it’s been a lot of fun and immensely entertaining. I cannot imagine supporting any other team as whole heartedly as I do these Toronto Raptors.

And so, if we win it all this year, let’s break out the salami and cheese, baby!

WE THE NORTH.

NORTH OVER EVERYTHING.

Unpopular Opinion: Netflix Really Isn’t All That Great

May 7, 2019May 7, 2019 manda_faromeiro

I hear you already. I know. What? What does she mean? Unlimited access to television shows and movies both past and present all for under $20 a month? I know. Totally a million dollar idea, or billion dollar idea -whatever way you spin it. Yes, Netflix is good, but it’s not really that great, and here’s why.

Like many people, I was super excited when I first found out about Netflix. A low monthly subscription (I think it was only $7.99 at the time) to access a massive library of television shows and movies. Oh the choices! So many choices. What to choose! How many episodes to watch in a row! I remember the first few times turning on Netflix I was amazed by the choice. And that is exactly the problem. Choice. One of the reasons I don’t think Netflix really is that great is because there is in fact too much choice. When I found myself logging onto Netflix whether it be alone or with my husband, I always had in mind the genre I felt like watching. You know, one of those, “I’m in a comedy mood today” or “I really want to watch an action film tonight.” So it sounds simple right? Wrong. After several minutes of browsing the selection, I found it even more challenging to decide if that is what I really wanted to watch. I could watch _________, it’s been awhile since I’ve seen it. Oh, I’ve heard good things about _____________, should we give it a try? I didn’t catch ___________ in theatres, maybe now I can finally watch it. Whatever the title, I always found the same questions coming up. Why was it so hard to choose something? Is it because there is a feeling you’ll waste your time on this when there are SO MANY other choices in that category? What about __________? Netflix recommends it. Based on my past watch history? I’ve only watched 3 things so far, how can you be so sure I’ll like this, Netflix? So many things to ponder…

Anyone who knows me knows that I am not an indecisive person by nature. I usually am the first one to make a decision, and I don’t change my mind. So if you are reading this thinking that my argument about there being too much choice on Netflix is null and void because you think I just can’t make a decision, trust me when I say that making decisions is not something I struggle with. The problem with having such a vast library of choice is that I found myself taking as long as 35 minutes to navigate and then finally come to a decision about what I would watch. 35 minutes is a long time to contemplate whether or not to watch a television show or movie. Do you ever get to the point where you just “pick” something because you are tired of browsing? I’ve already been looking around for 30 minutes, I could have been part way through the movie already. And this leads to another reason why Netflix really isn’t that great: with so much choice, I find myself reverting to movies or shows I already know I like or have seen before. I can’t decide whether to watch _______ which I’ve never seen, or I will watch Casino Royale for the fourth time because I know I love it. Yep, and now I am watching something I didn’t intend to watch in the first place. Oh, and I’ve already seen it before. Now, it’s not that I don’t enjoy what I am watching, but wasn’t the purpose to find something cool, new, or different to watch? To find a new show or movie franchise that’ll get you as excited as these previous favourites? There is something to be said about going for the choice you already know you’re going to like.

Maybe I’m reading too much into this. Maybe it’s okay to watch a movie you thought might be good but it ends up being crappy. Is it really so bad that I just wasted 1 hour and 40 minutes? The truth is, it kinda is, Netflix. Why is this any different than going to the theatre and being disappointed? Maybe because I chose to stay home and watch this, or maybe because when I go watch something in the theatre, there aren’t 100 other movies in that genre I also could have watched that night. So if I am going to dive in, why not watch something I know is already worth my time? Okay. I know. How can you ever find anything new to watch if you only watch things you’ve already seen? Well duh, just go down that list you’ve made of all the shows or movies you were told to watch from your friends and family members. What? What do you mean you didn’t add it to the list? What do you mean there is no list? Why do you keep telling people you’ll add it to the list? See what I mean about choice? Not only do you have so many things on Netflix to browse, but I bet you can’t meet up with a friend or two without “Hey, you know what I started watching on Netflix… you should totally check it out” coming up in the conversation and “adding” additional options to your decision making. I’m fed up just thinking about it.

I’m not trying to say that I don’t appreciate the fact that Netflix has allowed me to find a new show to watch (Bo-Jack Horseman) or if I chose, to rewatch a show I haven’t seen in a long time (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air). I really do appreciate that I can rely on Netflix for these things, but on a large scale, the novelty of Netflix has worn off for me. I don’t find myself diving into so many things Netflix offers. Maybe it’s because I don’t have time? I would like to think it’s because I’m too busy to binge watch anything, but the truth is I’m not. I do like to watch television and movies, a lot. For me, I would much rather tune into Netflix when I know there is something on there that I will get the most enjoyment from watching. Basically what I am trying to say is that Netflix isn’t really that great to me because it is much like any other network on television; I tune in to watch the specific scheduled programs that it offers me. I watch Global TV for Survivor & The Simpsons, I watch CTV for the Amazing Race Canada, I watch CBC for Schitt’s Creek & Kim’s Convenience, I watch SportsNet or the Score for sports games, and I watch Netflix for Bo-Jack Horseman, Arrested Development, oh and if I need to watch Bob’s Burgers from the beginning for the 7th time. Netflix also came in handy when we wanted to rewatch all of the 20+ Avengers movies before Infinity War last year too…

Netflix really is a game changer offering so much entertainment at our fingertips. It surely is a cost-saving option and many people have chosen to get rid of cable or satellite television because Netflix offers far more selection at such a discounted rate. Many of my friends no longer pay for cable and simply use Netflix, and if this works for you, that’s great. The purpose of my blog was not to tell you why liking Netflix is wrong or why Netflix sucks, so please don’t come at me. Like most topics on this blog, it was just something I had been thinking about for awhile, and it has come up in a conversation or two. By all means, please continue to converse with me about all the fun or fascinating or awesome shows and movies you’ve found on Netflix, I truly am interested in hearing about them, just don’t expect me to rush home and watch them; I might eventually, but that could take awhile. After all, did you hear Arrested Development is back?

How I Came Around to Enjoying Golf

April 19, 2019 manda_faromeiro

If you would have asked me 5 years ago if I ever envisioned myself being someone who enjoys playing golf, so much so that I would actually miss playing it during the winter months, it would have been a solid “no” followed by a chuckle or two. It’s crazy to think back, even that short time ago, and recognize how disinterested I was in playing golf; I had no real desire to get out there and felt it was far too boring. To be fair, apart from mini golfing, my experience and exposure to playing golf was very limited; no one in my household played golf, and neither did anyone in my extended family or even my friends. In school, while I was exposed to many different kinds of sports, golf was not one of them. Thus, many of my years were spent not even considering it as a hobby or pastime, there were plenty of other sports and things to occupy my time, so I didn’t give it much thought… until recently.

A few years ago, our good friends were living up in Port Carling for work (they were chefs working at one of the main resorts) and whenever we could, we tried to go up and visit them for a weekend. On one of these weekends, we decided to go to one of the small 9-hole golf courses up there; something to do for an afternoon and we figured we could entertain ourselves with how potentially bad our game would be. At the time, I knew very little about golf. The basics of the game and scoring I understood, but as far as what clubs to use or how to properly swing were totally unknown to me. In my mind, we were going golfing just for fun; this course was very inexpensive, so it’s not like this round of fun was costing us $50+ dollars or anything. As the day progressed, I was pretty much as bad as I expected to be, with the odds not in my favour, though I did manage to score a par, but overall I wasn’t going to be picking up the clubs again anytime soon. I don’t remember what my score was, but that was probably for the best. Nevertheless it was a fun afternoon hanging out with friends and getting to be outside for the day. After this, returning to the golf course didn’t cross my mind and it would be a number of years before I ever set foot on a course again…

In 2018, one of my very good friends was getting married, and if you’ve been following my previous posts you already know that I was the Best Woman in his wedding. To celebrate, myself and the other Best Woman took our friend to Myrtle Beach for a week; call it a bachelor week celebration but really and truly it was a perfect excuse for us to celebrate over a decade of friendship and go on a road trip. The groom being a golfer, we knew that hitting up a golf course in Myrtle Beach was a definite must-do for the trip. So that’s just what we did. Through researching the kinds of courses Myrtle Beach had to offer, we knew this wasn’t an experience we could simply wing, we needed to arrive to the course looking the part as if we had all been avid golfers for years (or at least trying). I took this task very seriously. I didn’t want to show up to such a fancy golf course and goof around. Of course, having fun was still the main goal, but if I was going to be golfing at a place like Myrtlewood Golf Club, I had to prepare. Not to mention, the groom really enjoyed golfing, so we owed it to him to be in the zone and willing to make the most of those 18 holes.

Months before the trip, I did my homework. I started to learn more about the game and I picked the brain of the groom to ask about his own experiences with golf. I kept an eye on a few shops to see if a good bargain for a set of golf clubs would ever come up, and had my friend looking out as well. I went to a driving range or two, trying whole-heartedly to give myself a better shot at performing well this time around. If I could score a par by fluke the last time, who knows what I was capable of doing on a 18-hole course with some legitimate practice. I knew that we were going to have fun regardless of the score, but I changed my mindset on the whole golf experience; I really wanted to focus on the skills and not just wack a ball around for several hours. Not to mention, I didn’t want my friend to be golfing with two people who were out there taking 8 to 10 strokes per hole; ain’t nobody got time for that!

A few days before we left for Myrtle Beach I was able to find a great starter set of clubs, and loaded up on balls and tees and some other golfing accessories. Before long, days into our trip had passed and it was finally golfing day. All of us were excited! The sun was shining, and we had such a stellar week so far, the golf was going to be another great highlight to add to the reel. With the guidance of my friend, coupled with my own intentions of tuning out any negative thoughts, being mindful of my swings, and focusing my attention on the ball, most of the holes were met with success. Don’t get me wrong, a few of the holes absolutely destroyed any confidence I thought I had about my game improving, I mean 13 strokes on hole 4 is pretty devastating. How does one come back from that? A par on hole 6 should do it! Despite what some may think, getting that par on hole 6 was such an electrifying feeling. Golfing on such a legitimate course, and coming back strong with a par after that horrendous 13-stroke hole 4, was incredible! The day was still early, but it was just the boost of confidence I needed for the remaining holes. Looking back on that game, there were definite lows and highs. Knowing what I know now (which still isn’t a great deal) I recognize where my shots got sloppy (probably due to fatigue) or where I didn’t think ahead of where exactly I wanted the ball to end up. The scorecard was pretty up and down; I did manage to get a few bogeys, but I also managed to get a few more 10 or 11 stroke holes *facepalm*. Overall, that 6 hour day of golf was exhausting. More notably, it left me thinking more about the game more than I ever had before. Now I was interested in getting out there again, and maybe getting another par or two!

Celebrating a Par on Hole 6
Myrtlewood Golf Club – May 2018

During the trip to Myrtle, the three of us did a lot of vlogging, and when we got home and watched some of the footage from the trip, I was thankful that we captured some of the golfing trip so that I could really relive the fun and excitement. Each time I thought about that day on the course, I kept thinking over what I would do differently next time, and assessing where and how I could improve. Before long, I recognized that golf was going to be something that I really enjoyed and wanted to keep playing. Something about being outdoors, challenging yourself and your own skill, as well as the peacefulness of having nothing to worry about but getting that ball on the green was very satisfying. These days, it is so easy to get caught up in all the distractions around us, but when I was golfing, that was all I was thinking about. Going on the golf course allowed me to shut-out everything else going on and just sharpen my skill by defining my thoughts on my own game. Golfing allowed me to be really present in the moment, and to take my time; something that is really taken for granted. Not to mention, being on the golf course was a really great opportunity to have quality time with someone; being outside in a quiet setting has that sort of effect.

Nottawasaga Golf Course, Alliston Ontario

Coming around to golf and thoroughly enjoying it wasn’t years in the making. It’s safe to say that one experience completely changed my perspective. Despite having really crummy holes in some of the rounds, I continued to focus on getting better; hitting further, making better contact, having the ball travel straighter to where I needed it to go, and yeah, getting another par or two each round. Perhaps one day, even a birdie! As I said, it wasn’t long before I was back on the course. There were still crummy holes played, but there were many more improvements! I have my friend to thank for a lot of my progress, merely because he was very patient with me but also helped to pinpoint what little adjustments I needed to make to get better. When I would go to him for feedback, he helped me to recognize where I was right, and how I could move forward with my own critiques to ensure that I would get into the swing of things in no time.

Playing at Nottawasaga Resort Golf Course
Continuing the Par Streak at Innisbrook Golf Club

So there you have it, a quick history on how I came around to enjoying golf. When I sit down to write these kinds of blogs, it always reminds me of how important it is to not only give things a chance, but how crucial it is to have the right kind of mindset, attitude, and presence while you’re doing these things. Don’t get me wrong, there was absolutely nothing discouraging about my friends the first time I went golf back in 2014, as those people are some of the best people to be around. I believe it is just about timing. There is a time and place for everything, and sometimes it takes some aged wisdom coupled with the growing need for one to unplug for an afternoon and just enjoy the great outdoors with some great company, playing a game that can be so great, and so greatly frustrating.

Watching 7+ Hours of Wrestling this Sunday Got Me Thinking…

April 9, 2019 manda_faromeiro

Fresh off of WWE’s biggest event of the year, Wrestlemania, I was feeling compelled to write my next blog on just what being a wrestling fan is all about, and why it’s really a lot of fun – at least for me! For starters, I cannot help but chuckle a bit as I write this, as many times in my life I have had many entertaining conversations with non-wrestling fans about how boring and fake wrestling is and how it’s a waste of time, or how silly it is to get caught-up in the storylines or characters. None of that is happening here! Let me tell you a bit about how wrestling, and in particular WWE, has been a special part of my life…

Growing up with brothers, I was exposed to the world of wrestling from an early age. I remember being as young as six or seven and playing with wrestling action figures and play-wrestling with my brother in the basement or living room; jumping off the armrest of the couch like it was the top rope or running from one wall to the other like we were running the ropes. These were all typical things brothers and sisters did while playing together, right? Well, they were in my house; but hey, it was the 90s! I always loved role playing as some of the wrestlers we were watching on TV. These wrestlers were animated characters with bold personalities and outfits, and they did some pretty cool things. What kid wouldn’t be drawn to that? Any wrestling fan can tell you, the 90s were such a ridiculously fun and gimmocky time (even more so than nowadays if you can believe it). Wrestlers had over-the-top outfits and personalities; it was easy to get caught up in the energy of The Ultimate Warrior, the flashiness of Shawn Michaels or Macho Man Randy Savage, or the exciting partnership of the Hart Foundation, while being intrigued (and a little spooked) by the eerie persona of the Undertaker. As a kid, watching wrestling was entertaining because there wasn’t anything on TV quite like it. Oh and I always loved role playing and putting on a show. Wrestling wasn’t just about the physicality and horseplay, there was always a story being told and something unique to see – it was very much about the next jaw dropping or electrifying moment. It is very exciting, and like any good television series or book, you want to see what’s going to happen next to these characters.

My appreciation for wrestling was not just about the occasional role playing in the livingroom to see who could do the best sharpshooter or stunner, my brother and I were very interested in the stories being told. When we got a little bit older, my brother and his friends created their own wrestling league where they all had their own character names, entrance songs/themes, and signature/finishing moves (including submission locks). I often helped as a referee or even announcer, as I was really the only girl (and noone was actually going to wrestle me). In addition, I got to help my brother out with brainstorming storylines and even designing belts and posters; whatever kinds of activities would still allow me to participate in the fun. We had created our own little world of wrestling, influenced by what we were watching on TV. The truth was, wrestling was a really fun pastime growing up. Whether we knew the results or matches were staged, it didn’t matter. We were entertained. Watching these characters on tv sparked our imaginations and creativity. At one point, my brother and I had even created our own magazine; writing short articles on the different wrestlers and creating ads for events or merchandise — just thinking about all of these things makes me laugh and smile! It really was a ton of fun; no different than role playing or acting out the adventures of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (or whatever other show you may have been watching growing up). Again, all typical things to do growing up, right? Bahah…

There are a few moments (like those I just described) that make me realize just how much wrestling was a valuable part of my childhood. Looking back, I can appreciate how much wrestling allowed me and my brothers to bond. I remember watching wrestling at home and having debates with my brother and Dad over some of these wrestling characters. In particular, my Dad was never a fan of Shawn Michaels or Goldust and made sure to let us hear about it every time they came on the TV. I recall getting the opportunity to watch a live show, and my oldest brother telling us about running into Sid Vicious in the bathroom or sitting ringside and going absolutely bonkers when the shattering glass hit and Stone Cold came storming down the ramp. These little moments were electrifying and all part of the bigger story of being a wrestling fan. As a fan, you live for those little moments.

When we got a little bit older, the role playing went away but the entertainment aspect of wrestling was still there. With age comes wisdom, so we began to understand more about how these storylines and characters came together. At times, the wow factor diminished, or the element of surprise wore off and we could begin predicting just what might happen at the end of the match. New personas evolved and old characters developed new attitudes. I would be lying if I said that there wasn’t a time where I lost a bit of interest in wrestling, and it wasn’t just because of the evolution of characters, there was just a little less time in my life for keeping up with the storylines.

In my twenties, my appreciation for wrestling was reborn. Like picking up an old favourite book series that continued on after you stopped reading, immersing myself in the storylines and characters that were now present in the WWE wasn’t easy. Some old favourites were still around, but there were plenty of new faces to see. In addition, the style of wrestling had evolved, and wrestlers had talent and skill unlike what had ever been seen before. Familiarizing myself with what was happening on the various programs took a bit of time, but once again, it was proving to be quite exciting! Definitely worth mentioning that there were far more women wrestlers around too; it wasn’t just about having pillow fights or pathetic gimmick matches that lasted 2 minutes! Women were becoming more visible on the roster, and not just as valets, but they were beginning to make waves and do incredible things! Chyna, Nattie, Lita, Trish Stratus and Beth Phoenix were notable women during the early stages of my wrestling fandom, but now the female locker room was filling up with remarkable talents and very noteworthy personas. As a woman, and a longtime fan of wrestling, it was a relief (and joy) to see so many women getting the television time and recognition of their male counterparts. I can’t help but wonder how my childhood experiences would have changed had I been able to grow up watching the likes of Sasha Banks, Charlotte Flair, Nia Jax and Becky Lynch.

Undoubtedly my experiences watching wrestling as a child differ from my experiences watching wrestling as an adult, but there are still some key similarities. This weekend, I found myself talking with a friend about the ridiculously long line-up that WWE had setup for Wrestlemania; with the show beginning at 5pm and set to wrap up after midnight. Who can possibly sit through over 7 hours of wrestling? Well, apart from the tens of thousands of people in the stadium, and the millions watching at home- me & my husband. Yes, it’s true, it’s damn true. As an adult, dedicating 7 hours in one day to something that isn’t related to work is not only baffling but also quite unheard of. Yet, something about wrestling continues to draw in our attention and keep us guessing, waiting, and watching in anticipation to see just what is going to happen next. That same appreciation and investment in those characters and personas I held as a child still exist because at the core of any great wrestling match is a compelling and captivating story. The same kinds of stories I loved to watch, witness, and create as a child are evolving with new main characters and personas today. Whether I’m thirteen or thirty, the stories and characters that set foot in the ring evoke emotion through engaging and entertaining events.

So, preparing for Wrestlemania weekend really got me thinking about how much I love wrestling, and how I never have been nor ever will be afraid to admit that I do. I’ve been fortunate enough to attend live events and immerse myself in the live atmosphere, surrounded by fans who get just as pumped up as I do when they hear that entrance music hit, or can’t help but jump around when that wrestler hits that finishing move. I’m thankful too for those friends in my life who get just as heated or passionate when discussing the latest storylines; and for a husband who grew up watching wrestling too! Together, we can share in the electrifying moments of glory, heartache, astonishment, and intense emotions. While I would be lying if I said that there were not many times where I was incredibly frustrated with WWE storytelling or decision making, one thing is certain – there is always something worth talking about!

Let’s Talk About Wearing Makeup…

March 26, 2019March 26, 2019 manda_faromeiro

I felt compelled to write a blog about makeup because as someone who has been wearing it since I was about 13, it tends to be a topic that stirs up interesting conversation. My relationship with makeup is a long, somewhat interesting one. Many people who know me know that I am almost always wearing makeup; whether it’s simply foundation or a full face of makeup including winged eyeliner and lipstick, makeup is very much apart of my daily routine – and that isn’t a bad thing. Now, I am far from a beauty influencer, makeup artist or guru, and you won’t find me on a YouTube channel anytime soon talking about my favourite brands or doing a tutorial, but the truth is, I wear makeup because I want to – and I want to for a number of reasons. I am happy to talk about wearing makeup to anyone who asks…

When I first started wearing makeup, I was lucky that my mom was a beautician and counter-manager for Estee Lauder cosmetics. This meant that my mom could provide me with really great quality makeup, so I wouldn’t have to buy the drugstore brands and not know what exactly it was I was putting on my face. Hear me out, there is NOTHING wrong with drugstore brands, especially nowadays when you can get a great deal of awesome brands there, and brands like Maybelline, Covergirl etc have really upped their game. When I say drugstore brands, I am talking about those brands similar to what you’d now find at Claires or Ardenes stores that are targeted at young teens and feel very waxy, plasticy and well, just not what “real” makeup should feel like. Anyway, my mom was very “cool” and not opposed to me wearing makeup at my age, and because of her knowledge and expertise in the field, she taught me the basics about applying makeup. Back then, of course, wearing makeup to school meant some eyeshadow, mascara, and a little bit of foundation; nothing too intense. Teens these days are far more advanced that I ever was at that age when it came to applying makeup (I just learned how to contour about a year ago). Nevertheless, wearing makeup to me was normal, and quickly became part of my everyday routine as a teenager; and I had fun with it.

For most of my life, and even well into adulthood, I suffered (and still do suffer) from acne prone skin. Throughout most of my teen years, my acne was so unpredictable and I’ve had it literally everywhere on my face and for months and months at a time. I would be lying if I said that sometimes my choice to wear makeup wasn’t influenced by trying to cover up my pimples or imperfections or redness of my skin, because it very much was. I had been met with some criticism in my lifetime from people who think that wearing makeup made my skin condition worse, and that if I didn’t wear “so much makeup” my skin wouldn’t be the way that it was. Truthfully, these people were indirectly shaming me for choosing to wear makeup. If you think back, it may have happened to you too, and you may have even done it to someone you know without even realizing it. I was made to feel that my skin was the way it was because of the products I was putting on my face. These comments also made the assumption that makeup alone causes oily skin and breakouts, which anyone who has seen a dermatologist can tell you that it is way more complicated than that. Regardless, my acne prone skin wasn’t the only reason I was wearing makeup. I wasn’t trying to hide the fact I had acne, I just was trying to make it more of background detail on my canvas rather than the focal point…and is that really anyone’s business anyway?

Having an expert like my mom, as well as seeing doctors and dermatologists throughout the years helped me to see how to best apply makeup when dealing with acne and also the kinds of products and ingredients to look for when choosing makeup brands. Experiencing all the bouts of acne I did throughout my teens and twenties, caused some frustration with the whole makeup process. At times, my skin was very dry, and wearing the right makeup was challenging. I didn’t want to just wear makeup because of people making those comments to me, I still enjoyed wearing it, but wearing it correctly was sometimes a challenge and figuring out how to change up your makeup routine to suit your changing skin wasn’t so easy. For most people, the objective of wearing makeup isn’t to look like you’re wearing a lot of makeup, so trying to do this while dealing with dry skin, redness, scaring, or even pimples or breakouts wasn’t easy. I liked wearing makeup because I liked trying out different colours, and emphasizing different elements of my face with pops of colour or making them stand out. Again, I wanted to wear makeup, and it wasn’t just to cover up my “natural” “imperfect” face. Finding that balance made makeup complicated, especially when you are reminded by society and people who make up that society that nobody wants to be that girl who CLEARLY wears too much makeup. Right? She must have something to hide if she is always wearing makeup. She must not be that pretty since she is always wearing makeup. Wrong. So very wrong! Nobody in my family or in my circle of friends ever made me feel like I HAD to wear makeup, and if they did, that would be pretty shitty.

Part of the reason I enjoy talking to people about makeup is because I want people to feel that wearing makeup isn’t just about covering up or trying to look prettier than you are. It’s okay to want to wear makeup, whether you wear it everyday or only for special occasions, or just whenever you feel like it. It’s okay to want to experiment with it and try out new colours, new looks, and new products, without feeling like people will comment about how much makeup you are wearing or that you’re “actually” wearing makeup for once. How many times have you heard someone say to you (or someone you know) “Yeah, you’re lucky you don’t have to wear makeup all the time.” What does this even mean? Is wearing makeup a chore? Is it a burden? Why should someone even feel this way? I’ve spoken to a few of my friends about this, who I never realized felt the shame of wearing “too much makeup” because when they tried a new look, all people could talk about was how they were wearing “so much makeup” or how they had to be going somewhere special to get all “dolled up.” Many people wear makeup to cover up imperfections, but they shouldn’t be made to feel like they HAVE to wear makeup to cover up imperfections, and if they want to do this, that’s OKAY and they shouldn’t be shamed for it- there isn’t enough conversation about this. You’re not any less of “natural” or “real” woman just because you choose/choose not to wear makeup. Whatever your style, makeup is a personal choice and a perfect example of self-expression. Much like fashion, makeup – how much of it you wear or how often you wear it – is totally up to you, and everyone can make that choice in the same way they do picking out a jacket or new pair of sunglasses.

I wasn’t trying to sound preachy in this blog, so I hope I didn’t come across that way. Like many of these blogs, these are a collection of thoughts that have been floating around my mind for awhile; it comes and goes. Basically, I don’t want it to be assumed that because someone likes wearing makeup or chooses to do so, doesn’t mean they’re striving to be a makeup influencer, YouTube makeup star, or instagram famous because they post about it. We like what we like, and I like wearing makeup, and am totally okay with shouting that out loud, or you know, posting about it on social media. I might not be the best contourer in Canada, but I sure do have fun trying to learn, and isn’t that all that matters? I think so! So next time you’re with your gal-pals and anything makeup related comes up, just be a little mindful of the comments you’re making, you might not realize how discouraging it can be. Oh and let’s not make assumptions, you know what they say when you assume…