Debut.

Dearest Blog Readers,

This little blog is in it’s infancy, and it surprises me daily. It has given me a venue for entertainment and expression; the small community that has gathered warms my heart.

I started it here, in a way to tiptoe into public documentation, test the blogging waters, and motivate myself to notice and remember- the 2 magic words for bloggers/ writers.

In a celebration of legitimacy, Lauren from Blue Luxe has been amazing in designing me a beautiful template for my blogging journey. I couldn’t recommend her more; her patience and design talent were great to work with.

I want to thank you all for gathering here, enjoying words and leaving some of your own. This has given me even more marrow to suck out of life and I so appreciate your visits.

As I build this memory bank and tuck morsels of my past in lovely little posts, I'll archive my very first blog header:

A photo of me hiking the Meteora mountain range in Kalambaka, Greece. Read about my trip backpacking in Greece here. Read about the name "Outside Voice" here.


So… I’m steppin’ out on the town to debut this little blogs new get-up.
I hope you enjoy.

... and join me!

"Like" my page on facebook,
grab my spiffy button,
write me lovely inconsequential messages on twitter,
and email me.
all seen on the sidebar --->


I read, answer, and appreciate every single gesture and comment.

Sincerely,

making a big to-do about it.

The snow is melting, the sky is blue (see more photos in last post!), and after getting over the pout-session I had a couple weeks ago, thinking "what the heck is this spring forward thing anyways?? you mean you're going to take an hour of sleep away, then expect me to work??" well, ladies and gentlemen, we've finally sprung ahead.

The days have been stretched, giving us one more hour of light. The air is warm enough to go snowshoeing in tank tops and snow pants... And if any of you love irony as much as I do, you'll love that image.



After a weekend of snowshoe trips, family dinners, drinks with friends announcing their engagement (!!), and a sick grandpa in the hospital that I'm willing with all my might to get better... I thought what better way to really spring ahead and embrace this fresh-and-dewy little season, than to channel my inner geek?

You see... there are two things you should probably know about me:

1. I tend to get into deep and meaningful relationships with the current season that is gracing my little place on this earth. [proof here]

and if we're all lucky, I might even post my little love letter to Spring in some future post;)

2. I'm a list-er. Yep, one of those people that is obsessively writing lists, keeping agendas/ diaries... because doesn't it feel so much more accomplished when you can put a big strike through tasks you've completed?

So... behold a list of amazing activities that are an 'oh-so important' part of my spring:

And you can bet... I'll love doin' each and every one of them.

Oh. And I've finally got my butt in gear and finished my 'about me' section. That's right... if this girl was on a baseball card [or had enough coordination to even play baseball] THIS is what the back of her card would read. Check it.

wordless weekend

"Spring is a heart full of hope, and a shoe full of rain"

--Unknown

happy weekend-ing to you and you and you.

xo

spring snow report

Reporting to you live, from a Wednesday...

Today I find myself slipping away dreamily into a Wednesday, as the weekend finally feels within reach.

But before we plow through the rest of the week with the promise of an awesome weekend ahead, I want to take a moment and "dear diary" the heck out of my last weekend, because spring has finally arrived! and dudes, spring snowboarding might just be the best thing ever.

The weather and moments on the hill this weekend were postcard worthy-- the postcard would look a bit like this, adorned with a stamp, and scrawled with cursive reading "wish you were here, the boarding is sublime":


Two of my girlfriends made a roadtrip up to relish the sun, snow, and of course my company, and there were more than a few moments in the weekend we all looked at eachother and said "seriously, can this get any better?"


We were able to mingle in town, enjoy a little shopping, then make it up the hill to soak up the powder for the rest of our Saturday. Coincidentally, there was some live music in the lodge afterward that paired nicely with our nachos and drinks, leaving us to wind down after carving the gnarly grind. (<--- I'm totally joking.) But it's not a joke that I heard a kid say that in the t-bar line. and I wanted to give him a fist pound and say "yep, I'm SO carving up the gnarly grind too, dude".

Spring may be one of my favorite seasons. I get to soak up all my favorite things like snowboarding, snowshoeing, skating that mix and mingle nicely with blue skies and warm weather. It's like a preview for what's to come this summer, still with an aftertaste of the crisp snowy winter.


So, needless to say, I'm vouching for my friend's favorite quote: "Mountains shall bring joy to the people". Cuz man, the awesome company, sunny skies, and gnarly grind are unreal.

And to share some bloglove: I loved some blog friends that played along and filled in the blanks to "_____ shall bring joy to the people" (on the post below)

-the Little Lady is fillin' in the blanks with "a good chocolate ice cream cone shall bring joy to the people"

-Stephanie thought "reading/ coffee shall bring joy to the people"

-and Fashion Cappuccino answered "musicals shall bring joy to the people"

go visit their blogs, they're wonderful;)

And that decides it. This weekend I'm going to curl up with a coffee and a good read, head up the mountain to go boarding while eating a chocolate ice cream cone and rocking out to musical tunes on my ipod.



Happy "Hump Day" everyone!

Monday Tune-age

A little music for your Monday

...because, lets face it, sometimes Monday's a b*tch and some good tunes are the only remedy.



...because although Monday seemed like a b*tch at first, I think she's one of those chicks that once you get to know her, she'll be someone you wanna rock out with.







Oh, and a bit of a peek at the weekend snowboard report that's coming up later this week:


One of my besties favorite quotes goes a little somthin' like this:

"Mountains shall bring joy to the people"

I can vouch for this. A couple of girlfriends made a road trip last weekend to soak up some of the spring snowboarding, and it was oh-so full of joy.

In fact, if you put a toque, goggles, and a snowboard on joy... then asked a random lady to take a crappy photo of it... It might look a bit like this:

But you know, I should respect the artistic license of the chick: snapping the photo wildly, cutting off our feet, and all scenic view... I'd get distracted by all the mountainous beauty too;)

So, have at 'er. What's your version? Fill in the blanks and let me know:

"______ shall bring joy to the people."

Happy St. P's!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

And what does ye do when ye is at work and doesn’t get to guzzle green beer with her comrades?
{you really have to imagine the best irish accent you can to make this affective}

Well, she dons her best green t-shirt under the coveralls, doodles a few shamrocks, and dreamily pursues photos of Ireland.

…contemplating adding them to the long list of “Oooo-I really-wanna-go-there” places.

All photos lovingly admired and borrowed from National Geographic Travel Photos

Check out the shutter action on this baby:

If my fellow travel-photography lovers don’t have National Geographic's “Photo of the day” site as their homepage; well that is my St. Patty’s present to you.
<3>

And for you fashionista/ pop culture lovers out there, here’s what Gweneth Paltrow has to say about the holiday...

That’s right, when she’s not busy filming episodes of Glee, she writes GOOP, a blog-type newsletter. Because of course I want to know about the best Irish bars around the world… oh geez, just more places to add to my list. Thanks a lot, Gweneth.

Hope ye all had a pinch-less, green filled day today!

be mine

Here’s a bit of my story: I’m a recently graduated elementary school teacher who has dreams of taking a masters degree in rehab medicine and traveling lots... and unfortunately those are expensive habits.

So when I came back to my hometown from backpacking Greece last year I was offered a job at a copper mine- a place I worked at to put myself through my bachelor degree. And since I’m a sellout... i mean, so I can raise funds to follow my dreams I turned into elementary school teacher turned short-time miner.



That’s right: haul trucks, excavators, turbochargers, and transmissions. A far cry from little innocent grade one students putting apples on my desk… but ya know what? I like it.



But lets clarify something first: I’m fairly girly.

I’m a 24 year old girly girl that was a ballerina from age 5-17, routinely looked like a bottle of Pepto Bismol, and currently enjoys makeup, shopping and clothes… a little more than what would be considered healthy. When I’m not in coveralls I can be found in a dress, or some sort of other sparkly or (self proclaimed) stylin’ apparel.

So when I started my job at the mine at age 17, I was handed a pair of too-large coveralls with “Lauren” elegantly scrawled across the pocket, and directed to climb in an excavator engine and scrape the grease out so it could be welded. My jaw dropped a little.




But, as in any story a little magic happened... Just about the time that one of the older men came up to me and told me that he didn’t think I should be there because I was a smaller girl, and there was no place for me on the shop floor. I got my sh*t together.

I don’t care what anyone says, when you’re told you can’t do something, you adjust your pink hard hat, make sure your hair looks damn good, dive into the grease, and prove the h*ll out of yourself.



So, I did. I worked on the shop floor as a labourer for 3 summers, then as a shipper-receiver in the warehouse for 2 more years. Now I am the Assistant Maintenance Planner, and plan component change-outs such as the engine that I was inside scraping grease off of in my first day here.

The funniest think out of the process here is how much I love it. And those grumpy old men? They turned out to be some of my best friends and ‘second dad’s’ now.

And in the bonus round, I get to enjoy this beautiful setting of a mine in the mountains.



The point of this story, you ask? Simply to be able to look back in this little online ‘diary’ and remember this time, and to share some of the photos I took this week, of course.



but really I guess it comes down to this:

As I see it, life’s about getting dirty, diving in, and learning all you can while you’re here.

weekend leftovers

First of all- to make your Monday a bit happier...

This is just a little bit of amazing:

And now that we got that out of the way... I'd like to speak of

Weekend Leftovers.

I know i know, it doesn't sound too appetizing. Kind of brings to mind the 4 day old Kraft dinner that you made on Friday night as your study snack, or the soggy salad that you thought you might eat the next day while it was still fresh (then didn't, because no-one ever does.)

But no, i'm talkin': you wined and dined all weekend, ate at digs that you couldn't normally afford so you're stretching out the five course meals and savoring like it should be. You're unpacking those leftovers and enjoying every last little bit, cuz it was plate-lickin' kind of good.


My weekend leftovers...

::Loving a sunset driving home from work


:: Snowshoeing this weekend, and the sun dog we spotted.

or should I say, Check out this sun, dawg.


:: Laughing at a coworkers photo of a gas station sign they saw on the drive to work. Accurate reaction to the gas prices, I'd say.

:: This made me happy.

And I hope this house comes with the dog and the little boy scout, because it's an amazing real life trial of Up!

(it flew 10,000 feet high for about an hour.)

:: Pumped that B and I just booked front row tickets to "O" Cirque du Soleil at the Bellagio for our Vegas trip!!

:: Looking forward to: next weekend when my friends are coming from out of town for a ski bum weekend. Snowboarding, sun, and friends.


Oh, I have a feeling those leftovers will last me for a while. Hope you're having fun savoring some of your own!

Happy Monday.

a town painted red.

Celebration. I love it.



To revel in an individual's achievements, kick up ones heels, paint the town red, be jubilant, dress up and make it a party [life, or otherwise].

Making important times stand our from the rest. It's like bold-ing the font of life.

Having someone feel special, their day a little brighter for a little or big reason. I'm into it.

So when my engineer friend passed her P.Eng exam and entered into the world of capable designers of our mine, we didn't hold back.




Some co-workers bribed her: if you pass this exam we'll have a party! With balloons, a cake, and really good champagne!

And that we did.


Last weekend we celebrated this little engineer, our friends, and the community we've made at our home away from home (living in camp at the mine). We intertwined the worlds of camp and home, and showed each how wonderful the other one is.



I've had this funny little moment a few times this year: the moment where I look around and think, yep, I didn't know I'd be here.

After leaving my world at university not knowing where I'd go after getting back from my backpacking trip through Greece and Turkey, I landed right in the middle of this little party.

A party reflecting people, ideas, and activities totally different than what I predisposed. Including friends that are a big ingredient of my weeks living in camp, and the loved ones that fill my weekends at home with fun and lovin'. I would have never guessed that each one of these people would be in one room, together, all special to me.

But you know, I'll celebrate that too. The unpredictable enjoyment of it all.

Dear Winter, Love Lauren.

Hey Winter, Whats up?

This is tough, but the thing is, we need to talk.

This is kind of awkward... so I’m gonna skip the cliches and admit right up front: It’s not me, it’s you.



We’ve had some really good times together, and I mean awesome: like face-hurting- because-I’m-laughing-so-hard, romping through snow covered fields mitten-in-mitten while-bundled up in my favorite new snow jacket kind of awesome. But you see...


as much as I enjoyed rocking out to your theme song of “ice ice baby” for the last 6 months, It’s been a little overplayed.


I just think we have our time and place, and you know what they say about winter romances, they don’t last forever; they really only work out a few months of the year when the snow is light and fluffy, falling from the sky, or when I’m on my snowboard.


But you see, I just feel like we’ve been together for a while now, and, well, you’re just too needy.

So, I think we should just take a break... Maybe just until next December? The space will be good for both of us.


Then I can relish your crisp, cool flakes and soak up your blue (sk)eyes. I am really into them, you know.



So, lets not end it on a bad note, I think we should be friends and remember the good times.
But... take a damn hint.



I'll always love you Winter, you know that.

xoxo




All photos taken by LCR

swag bag {of life}

Oscars. I'm a little late. But I still wanna take part in the fun:

In a season when one of the favourite movie-The King's Speech- was about rising to the occasion of a historic public speaking moment, one of the first speeches of the night resulted in a not so eloquently spoken f-bomb.


But, It's not dropping the f bomb I want to talk about,

or Anne's many costume changes. [seriously, does any girl deserve to wear that many gorgeous designer dresses all in one night? ...ok ok, i'm jealous.]



or even J. Beibs taking his new haircut... I mean Selena out for the big debut.


Nope. It's the swag.

Offside: how fair is this: already famous, rich, beautiful people get to attend the luxury of a red carpet event, dress in designer digs, and bring home a reportedly $75,000 swag bag.

Forget the little gold statue. I'd just go for the good stuff. The swag.

So, in the event that none of us got so lucky. I bring you the swag bag {of life}. Enjoy.
________________________________________________________________________



-"the future belongs to the few of us still willing to get our hands dirty"

as you unwrap this poster your hands get covered in the ink that will reveal the poster. The words and method- very cool.




-These teas. Two of my favorite things in the world. Tea+snail mail.

You fill out a postcard online that is the label of the tea, it's then sent anywhere in the world. And if a girl can't have tea with her friend, being sent a postcard tea is almost as good.



-This website.

One of my favourite things is to grab a coffee and peruse Chapters or a library. Sometimes not even in a goal to read a book, but just to leaf through the thick, aged pages and look at the wonderful design that is their covers.

Don’t judge a book by It’s cover... Really, don’t. But you can drool over the ones you like.

This website is a gallery of literature spines from over the years. Either used as a gallery or a way to keep track of your own library.

librariangraff, this one's for you:)

-and if you haven't heard this girl, i'm throwin' her in the swag bag too:





-Oh, and my biggest bit of swag for the week: a friend that just passed her P.Eng (professional engineering) exam. I'm so proud of her. and I'm pretty into the cake and party that is to follow in celebration tonight.



and don't ask where (or why) I find some of these things. I work at a mine and I'm covered in dirt most of the week, so I like looking at pretty things in my break... and I've got to do something with all the links;)

Have a great weekend, I'm headed to get ready for my little engineer-that-could's party!

photos sourced here