awesome.

"The truth is, everything is going to happen to you. 

You'll be poor. You'll get dumped. You'll lose someone you love. You'll be ridiculous. You'll make mistakes. Oh yes, you'll make mistakes. SO many many mistakes! 

Sometimes you'll feel completely lost.

But whatever happens, you'll always have yourself. 

Your sense of humor, your crazy theories, your love for life, your curiousity about others. Your ever-changing vision of the world - all those things will stay intact. 

And you'll realize that right when you think you're going to fall into pieces and crash on the floor, that there will be loving arms there to catch you, and whether that support comes from close friends or strangers, they will be there. 

Learn to recognize it, and give yourself over to those loving arms. 

Learn to see the magic of existence. 

Learn to follow all those invisible threads that you'll weave together by just being yourself, always progressing toward more light, more acceptance and more truth. 

You also need to know that you will be loved, and you'll be successful. 

And all those difficult moments that came before will protect you from being afraid. 

Stop worrying.  

You're going to see the world, and meet people, and learn to love them. 

You'll learn tenderness. 

Toward others, and toward youself. 

You won't be so afraid anymore. 

So don't be afaid sweetheart." 

- Unknown. 

summer2015.

Everything I'm into right now. 

tiki.

“Comparison is the thief of joy.”

I'm going to let that sink in for a moment. 

Not going to lie, the last couple weeks I've felt like I was in a little bit of a plateau. I've not been 100 per cent sure what my next move was going to be in the dance world - especially after a year like this.

Looking back, I'm on the eve of the anniversary of my life changing. While working on the show "Mistresses" with The Lovers Cabaret last summer, I found out quite a bit about who I was and where my priorities laid. The past 10 months especially have been about embracing that to a full tilt.

Over the past 5 days, the my life shifted again.

First off, my show with the Army of Sass Vancouver was hands down, my most fullfilling term as a teacher. The wonderful thing about working with adults is that they realize how much of an impact and change they are making.

Children don't always understand how much they have improved, whereas adults (especially in the age of YouTube) and watch themselves and "connect the dots".

I got to sit back and watch the show, audience reactions and much more from the sound booth, and it's safe to say my heart swelled 10 times its size.

How things have changed since I was a student in the program - I'm so happy I stuck with my gut and kept dancing when so many people told me it wasn't a good idea.

The Army of Sass - Vancouver Privates dancers. 

One of my lovely students, Claire. 

From week one to Saturday night, I have never been more proud to see women embracing their bodies, attitudes and lives on the stage.

Numba two...about a year ago (actually when I was working on Mistresses) I was attending a plethora of burlesque shows to learn more about its true style, the classic tease and also just out of pure fascination and urge for entertainment.

Vancouver is wonderful and a very rich city in burlesque and cabaret shows, classes and talent. Throughout my tour de shows I stumbled upon a few dancers who completely took my breath away. One ran a tiki-themed, 1960's go-go night at The Shamefull Tiki Room on Main Street, and I was immediately hooked on her social media presence, and drooled over her tiki-themed posts.

Fast forward a year later, and I had the chance to take her go-go dance class, and the producer picked me to dance on Sunday night in a preview for new students, for the show.

The wonderful thing about the work I did this past year (especially with a highly interactive show, SYN) is that I love being in a room of people I don't know. I'm pleased to share I'll be shaking it at the Go Go Bungalow at The Shameful Tiki Room on August 30!

Dancing at Lydia DeCarllo's Go-Go Bungalow at The Shameful Tiki Room.

So here we are, just a day after the summer solstice, and according to astrology, The Summer of Love (more here...I know, but I'm learning to love and wholeheartedly embrace it all). My life is going to change yet again. Here we go. Time to take the plunge.

Stay tuned. 

rest.

This is one of those few days that I have completely and utterly alone. 

Audrey Hepburn once said, "I have to be along often...that's how I refuel." 

Maybe it's because I grew up in loud, fun and wild family where there was always someone on the go, dogs running around, people listening to music, etc., that has made my gravitate to a city life. I love living and being around people, bouncing off ideas, spending time together and having a partner in crime. 

This past 10 months has changed me in a bigger way than I think I can even comprehend. There's always someone asking me a question or for advice, which I'm more than happy to assist with or direct in the right direction. 

I love being out. I love being busy. If I had it my way, I'd be in class, having drinks with friends or at a show every night of the week. 

I had solid plans to be in a yoga class, literally right now. But as I sit, listen to some mellow beats and sip on a cup of tea, I realize I'm not going anywhere this evening. Looking ahead to the unpredictability of the next three days, the best thing is to be alone. 

A ping came up - am I being lazy? Shouldn't I be working every, single, damn day to make these dreams of mine true. I have always preached that I would sleep when I'm dead. 

I have to remind myself that I don't work a 9 to 5 with set weekends and time off. As an entrepreneur and contractor, I work every day in some capacity. I know my body, mind, patience (just saying!) and such will be tested and maxed this weekend. 

If my sanctuary for the evening is a warm bath, candles and the scent of my last peonies of the season...so be it. There are many more weeks of summer to come. 

My phone is officially on "Do Not Disturb" mode. See you tomorrow friends. 

Just a thought. 

yay.

There's something really wonderful about growing into who you really are. 

Happy. Happy. Happy.