Show me the money

"Of two things you can be certain; death and taxes." Benjamin Franklin

Being a grown-up has been making me all about the angry and the rage lately. It's been turning me into a less-than-positive person and it's been making me evaluate the influences in my life. Sounds like fun, I know.

Positive: I did my taxes by myself for the first time ever. Well, the Boy may have helped when I was mumbling curse words under my breath at the computer. But the important thing is, I didn't send them home to my mommy! Even though she tried to convince me to! Grown. Up.

So, after dealing with the Tax Man, I've come up with some financial goals for this year. This year, I will pay off my student loan. Hurray! I will keep medical receipts. I will opt for a bus pass over tickets, so I can get the tax break, instead of buying tickets and ending up paying the same amount. Finally, I will contribute more to RRSPs (I sorted this out when I was home in February. Automatic withdrawl, oh how I love thee).

Money is a giant stress, so it's good to at least be able to pretend that I have things under control.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

I'm no fashionista. Big name designers don't design for me. I do more classic styles, with some trends that I can pull off, mainly trendy colours. Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate the beauty of well-made clothes, I just can't pull a lot of it off. For this reason, I was a bit nervous when the lovely Andrea invited me to be her right-hand girl at Edmonton's Fashion Week last night.

I shouldn't have worried. For starters, a glass of red while making fun of the "model" talking herself up to a group of young 4H girls does a lot to ease the mind. Secondly, Andrea is fabulous. Finally, it wasn't really all that impressive (though I had been warned).

Some of the stuff that went down the runway was just sad. The music was strange, the girls looked uncomfortable and awkward, the clothes didn't fit, the seams buckled even though the garment wasn't too small and there were loose strings everywhere. Heidi Klum would not have approved. Since I don't subscribe to the same journalistic principles as A., I can let you tell you the good, the bad and the ugly. And oh, was it ugly.

And then there was Tressa Heckbert.

Her show was cohesive, a dash of futuristic, the clothes were well-tailored, the girls looked cool and we couldn't help but comment on the shininess of their hair. Little details made us squeal in delight. The show had been thoroughly thought through and it showed. Not a rogue thread in sight. No "dog fur" poufs chasing the girls down the runway. Everything about Tressa's show was fabulous. It was enough to make us actually want to go to St. Albert.

For more, check out Andrea's take on the show here.

The Easter Bunny delivered early

Unfortunately, I couldn't find a video of "Step by Step" that would let me embed it. Since it's the only song I can remember, it's the only one that matters.

Goodness gracious, they've gotten old.

I bring this on myself

I've been listening to country music all day; one pink earbud dangling from my left ear and my right foot tappin' under my desk. It's my own fault. Summer is on the horizon, and by summer, I mean those things that makes it feel like summer. Warm weather, drinks on the patio, my BFF and the littlest sister (at the same time). The baby, baby sister will be here for the entire summer... she just happens to move here at the end of the month when my favourite lady breezes into town.

And we're going to a country music concert. Montgomery Gentry. Row 20. Because we're small town country girls.

We like corn fields and the smell of fresh-cut hay. We went to Buck and Does before we went to the bar and we were raised on blue jeans and flip flops. As far back as I can remember, I remember doing chores in the barn to the tune of country radio. Taking breaks to dance beneath the radio and belt out our favourite songs. Staying out of licking range of the cows. Belting out those tunes in the mows even when we couldn't hear them from the radio.

I remember road trips with country on the radio. No matter whether a song is new or old, it all sounds familiar. It feels familiar. It's legs dangling as you lean back on a swing, letting the world wash over you. It's a big hug from those who've known you longer than you've known yourself. It's Mom and Dad's patio with a cold beer after a long day of doing hay. It's long walks in the middle of the night down the backroads. It's home. It's summer.

And I couldn't be more excited.

I think Facebook just called me a fierce bitch

Elle completed the quiz "Which crazy bitch are you?" with the result Sinead O'Connor.

You are one fierce bitch. You are very independent and will take no bullshit from anyone but your personality is actually sort of quiet and shy. You are a natural beauty and you are very comfortable with your feminity. You don't feel the need to overdo it or go out of your way to fuss over your looks. You don't want to distract people from what you stand for and the talents you possess. You are very idealistic and will go to any extremes to stand up for what you believe in even if it creates controversy and people don't understand. Relationships can be hard for you sometimes because men feel threatened by you but time again they come running to you and realize that you are actually very sweet and motherly....until they cross you.

The sad thing is, it's pretty accurate.

Why I'm glad to be Canadian #832019

It's hard to believe stuff like this still happens in the world.

The federal government, along with other foreign affairs departments, is expressing concern over proposed laws in Afghanistan. One law would make it illegal for Shi’ite women to deny their husbands sex. Women would also need permission to leave the house. Children would be in the custody of fathers and grandfathers only. Critics are now questioning Canada’s commitment to its military program in that country. CBC Radio Clg. CTV Clg.

Read more at CTV online.

Good job, celebrities.

There have been a lot of celebrity public service announcements lately. They've ranged from support for democracy and voting, gay rights, and now, ending violence against women.

I personally find it encouraging when celebrities use their place in society to do something worthwhile. To use their fame to promote an important cause or message that they believe in. Something that many of us would love to do, but that has a much bigger reach when they do it. Bravo.