I should really make up my mind and stick to a URL! Unfortunately I am a constantly changing and evolving person whose preferences seem to be always changing too!

Find me over at my new, hopefully semi-permanent home! http://www.amandafoley.wordpress.com

Why? Because half of the downtown shops have closed up. It’s distressing. As someone who prefers to be in an urban, walkable environment, I tend to avoid the suburbs. I dislike large, sprawling shopping areas with parking areas the size of football fields. My city seems to have, like other cities, poured all of its attention into these massive driver-friendly suburban mega-shopping experiences.

It makes me sad. These massive shopping areas are nearly inaccessible to pedestrians in their side-of-freeway locations, but they’re also draining downtown of all its clientele. Everyone is driving their vehicles to these area instead of taking public transit to the downtown core to do their shopping.

The shift has resulted in half of the businesses in our city centre to be closed & boarded up. I noticed a few of them vacant on my last visit home, but this time there were more. Which means that most of these buildings have been vacant for a year. Beautiful, historic boutique spaces for rent in a prime location, which have sat empty, whilst countless new box stores and restaurants in the suburbs have sprung up.

I understand that space in the suburbs is cheaper, but it also unfortunately supports a car-supported culture, and thats the last thing my humble hometown needs.

So, people of Halifax, and all around North America… please, try to support local businesses. Especially in the downtown core. Support & Keep a pedestrian & bike friendly culture alive. Eventually, we won’t have a downtown core at all if this trend continues.

xx

I’m home with my family and celebrating christmas all over again.
<3

Boyfriend & I had fun tonight making a very, very failed gingerbread house.

Hope you’re spending quality times with loved ones too!

Hello internet people

So, unless you live under a rock, or you don’t pay any attention to the news whatsoever, you’ll know that there is absolute and utter chaos in northern Europe. London’s Heathrow airport has been nearly shutdown, operating only a couple of flights and only letting a couple land. Considering its Christmas week, its absolute chaos. I don’t exactly agree with the “refugee camp” comparison, but I will say that I feel bad for all of the people who are stranded.

Like…for example, my in-laws? My boyfriend’s mum & sister were meant to arrive in Vancouver today from London, but now there flight is cancelled. Not just delayed, but cancelled, and because of chaos, they have no option to rebook until after christmas. So not they’re not coming at all. It’s insanely disappointing for all of us. It was meant to be their first visit to Vancouver and all of us were really looking forward to it . There are people all around the world who are either stranded, or having to cancel their christmas plans because of this…afterall, Heathrow is the busiest airport on the planet.

So now that his family isn’t coming anymore,I now have to deal with a very sad expat! We’re going to try to do out best to have a family-less Christmas in Vancouver…at least we have each other!

We’re heading to Grouse Mountain tomorrow for some christmas-y adventures in the mountain snow! Hopefully it’ll be good fun and it’ll get our minds off of the dissapointment.

I’m also excited that I’m headed home to Nova Scotia for a visit on the 28th. I feel a bit guilty for heading home now that the boyfriend’s family isn’t coming to Vancouver….but that’s just one of those unfortunate parts of life, you know? My family will kill me if I don’t come for a visit, so I’m still going to go.

Anyway- hopefully your enjoying your holidays, wherever you are!

Oh, and these pictures below were taken last night during a midnight walk in our neighbourhood last night:

I’d love to do some film stuff when I’m back in Nova Scotia for a few days later this month <3.

via

….sometimes, on a clear day, I remember why I wanted to move here in the first place. I may be homesick for elsewhere and I may be taking my sweet time adjusting to life here, but I will say that Vancouver is finally starting to grow on me, and I’m started to have a little love affair.  It’s not what I expected, sure, but nothing ever is.

<3.

And, I’m homesick to boot.

That song reminds me of high school. Joel Plaskett a-la 2006, I believe?

I hope you have a great monday, to any dear reader.
xxxxxxxx

I’m the type of girl who loves anything christmas-y. Peppermint hot chocolate, christmas movies, twinkling lights, candy canes and anything else that conjures up images of cozy winter nights. It brings me back to fond memories of my childhood and comforts me, especially because I won’t be spending christmas with my family this year.

My Nick isn’t really the type of guy who is big on North American consumer-culture (you know, him being a snooty brit and all…jk!), but he reluctantly agreed to get a small tree and help me decorate it. I enjoyed it very much, despite his whinging. For me, its the little things, you know? I don’t want anything excessive…just a little tree, some little stockings, and some holiday music.

Maybe we’ll start to develop our own little traditions, as time goes on… (and I begin to brainwash him to love christmas more!).

I’m really looking forward to checking out some handmade ornaments at some upcoming markets in Vancouver. Maybe I’ll even try my hand at getting crafty myself? We got that little tree, the stockings,the lights and the round bulb ornaments, but I don’t really want to go out and by anymore pre-packaged department store decorations. I really want to make it more of a personal, hand-made and crafty ordeal, if I can!

Have you started decorating for christmas yet? Is Nov. 27th too early?!

xxxxx

I am requesting your input, if you’d be so kind. I’m writing an essay, and I love hearing the opinions of others to fuel my writing fire or to find additional resources.

The thesis of my essay is:

With the emergence of online social interaction, text-messaging, video games, and other forms online socialization, many children and teens are are losing, or not learning vital interpersonal & face-to-face social skills of previous generations. They will be faced with challenges when communicating in person in the real world.

Do you agree? Why or why not?

Also: please note this isn’t a direct personal opinion, its just a position I have chosen to argue for an academic essay.

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