SMART STUFF

I realize that I am only 20 years old one might not call that a ripe old age at which to be giving people "wise advice", but rest assured, this advice doesn't come from me, but from my grandmother Grace McCarthy, who was just about the smartest woman who ever lived.

1. Never leave the house without your lipstick on: She never did; whether it was to go out for supper, or just run to the grocery store. I've found that since I've started wearing lipstick (I tend to wear slightly bolder shades than she did), I feel so beautiful and any outfit I wear seems magically more put together. It's a confidence booster and if you find the right shade, which is important, you can look really lovely and unique. The picture on the right shows my favorite lipstick, Maybelline New York's super bold shade "Are You Red-dy?" (another plus: lipsticks have cute and cheesy shade names). 

2. If you don't feel like eating your supper, just have another popsicle: Life is short. If you want a popsicle instead of whatever boring meal you're not in the mood to eat, have one. Have a caramel cake too, for god's sakes. 

3. Don't be "Put-on": My grandmother had a strong distaste for people who are too put-on. For those of you are confused as to what "put-on" means, it refers to a person who puts on airs and thinks they're just a bit better than they really are. My grandmother was a proud woman, but she never looked down on anyone, and I think a lot of people could use this advice.

4. Do whatever you want, and don't be afraid to tell the rest to "kiss it": This is truly the best advice in my opinion. She always told me not to pay attention to what anyone else had to say about what I was doing and go for what I really wanted. I also think that there's nothing better than telling someone who really deserves it to just KISS IT. 

Hello all the people,
I realize that it has been an absolute AGE since I have published something new on this blog. I will offer up the frail excuse that at one point it was exam period, and I was stressed; I hope that that appeases you.

It was an absolutely beautiful day in Montreal today and I am proud to say that for once I took full advantage of it. Because of this, I was inspired to create a fun blog post about lovely activities that one can look forward to now that spring/summer has finally landed in Montreal. (By "activities that one can look forward to" I mean a few things that I do and will now describe in great detail)

-->BUY LUNCH AND EAT IT IN PARK LAFONTAINE: Not just any lunch. Get yourself to the Fruiterie du plateau, which is corner Roy East and Chateaubriand (Metro Sherbrooke). They sell tons of fresh fruits and vegetables and a variety of ready-made meals of the healthiest variety. This type of food is perfect for a sunny summer afternoon and it is an easy 5-minute walk from Park Lafontaine, which is, in my opinion, one of the loveliest parks in the city. I also recommend sitting on the western side of the lake, which, in my experience, tends to host less drum circles and stoned twenty-somethings. I realize that this entire plan sounds ridiculously hipster, but I assure you, it makes for a lovely afternoon                                                                                  (it's also quite romantic if you share it with someone you love).

-->PLACE DES FESTIVALS: This is an awesome place to go if you want to take advantage of all the festivals that go on in Montreal in the summer months (e.g. Jazzfest, Francofolies, Just for Laughs, etc.) However, even when there isn't a festival going on, Place des Festivals has always been one of my favorite places to hang out in Montreal during the summer. It is perfectly placed at the heart of downtown and right next to Dairy Queen/Dagwoods and the Complexe Desjardins which has a decent food court and public bathrooms. My absolute favorite thing about this place though, is that it features tons of fountains, and anyone who knows me knows I have an unnatural fascination with fountains.

-->GO TO THE BOTANICAL GARDENS FOR GOD'S SAKE: I know this one might seem sort of lame and predictable, but I feel like people only visit the botanical gardens during events like the Chinese lanterns, or the whole "papillons en liberté" thing. I really feel that the gardens on their own are a really amazing place and are definitely worth exploring outside of the biggest attractions. It is very interesting and offers a fun and beautiful natural haven in which to forget that you live in the hot, asphalt covered city of Montreal where the wind never blows in the summer. Also, I realize that this suggestion is "all the way at Olympic park", but give me a break, the métro ride to Viau isn’t that long; read the 24Heures or something.