I think a common human epidemic is the miscommunication between people; not being able to express what they want but hoping or assuming that someone else will just magically know. How can they know if you never told them? I can relate to the emotion of wanting someone to do or say something, and then being disappointed when they don't. Or in some cases, even being angry when they don't. But at the end of the day you have to remind yourself that what you think is the best thing to do isn't always what other people think is the best thing to do. We are all viewing life through the tinted lenses of our own experience.

In the context of relationships, if someone genuinely wants to make you happy, then they would actually prefer it if you would just say to them directly what it is you want. Women are notorious for expecting men to be mind readers.  But in all fairness, if you want him to buy you flowers more often - tell him. If you want him to pay more attention to you - tell him! At least give him a fighting chance to give you what you want. Similarly, if you think you deserve a raise at work - no one is going to offer it to you. Speak up!

I think we get caught up in what we believe to be "common sense", but what is really a certain set of rules or traditions based on what your parents taught you, and what experiences you have lived through. Everyone's "common sense" is different. It's up to you to express yours.

One Love & Music,

I've always had a passion for gift-giving. I love the challenge of finding gifts that people love; something that surprises them and makes them smile. But as the cliche goes, in August I went to Africa and my perspective changed. A $50 goat can change the life of an entire family. But in North America we spend $50 on chocolates! My brain just can't comprehend it.

Don't get me wrong - I still enjoy shopping and enjoying material things. But if I'm going to give someone a gift, I would like for it to serve a bigger purpose somehow.

I found Christmas shopping this year particularly challenging, and found myself wandering through the mall not knowing what to do with myself.

I think next year, everyone is getting a goat.

;)

I hope the hoildays fill you with Love & Laughter!!

One Love & Music,

From childhood we are taught about this deluded concept of "selfishness". Mom says, "share - don't be selfish", or "think about others first, don't be selfish". Is that really what encompasses selfishness -simply putting yourself before others? At least, that's what I was taught in my house.

It has taken me 28 years to learn the real meaning of selfishness. To be selfish, I believe, is to impose your own beliefs and/or opinions onto another. To encourage someone else to do or act in a manner that you prefer, rather than their own. What selfishness is not, is putting yourself first. Doing what's best for you. Following your own dreams, even if they are misalighned with those of your friends and family. It's pure logic, really. If you neglect your own basic desires, wants, hopes, or dreams, how are you expected to be happy? To be content enough that you would still have the energy or desire to put others first? Sounds backwards to me.

The truth I believe in is so simple - if you really do what makes YOU happy, without considering what others will think or feel about it (because really, who cares other than them), you will be brimming with so much love and happiness that you won't be able to help but spread it onto others. You'll be so content with life itself that the compulsion to be kind to and help others will come naturally to you. 

The misconception is that if you put yourself first, you will cease to help other people, when in fact, putting yourself first will literally enable you to help others better. Who better to help than someone who has acheived true happiness?

Do what makes you happy NOW, and you will be a better person, I promise. Now! Go! It can't wait a moment longer!

One Love & Music,

As I mentioned in my last post, a month ago I had the honour of travelling to Kenya with Me to We and Free the Children. It would be an understatement to say "I learned a lot" or, "it was a great trip"! Visiting rural Kenya was completely life-changing. It gave me an entirely new perspective on life, people, relationships, materiality, and gratitude.

The people in rural Kenya have so little in material things, and are so abundant in everything else. They are happier, and more grateful than any North American culture I've ever been exposed to. For the little they do have, they are endlessly proud and filled with gratitude. 

When I was there I couldn't help but make the comparison with our lives here, and think about how often I hear people talking (including myself) about what they don't have; what they "need"; what they want; and how "happy" they will be when they get those things. What we have yet to understand is that happiness will not be brought by material possessions. True happiness comes from an inner peace that has to be cultivated by each person, within himself. The Kenyan people have this peace, this personal joy that shines through them, no matter how little they have physically. If they only posses one chicken, they are SO proud of that chicken; so grateful that they are lucky enough to have ONE chicken. In the Western world we are CONSUMED with what we don't have. What we lack. And as a result we continue to manifest this feeling of lack, and the inherent dissatifaction that goes along with it. Think about it: how many people can you say you know who are truly happy? Who are not more concerned with the things they are working "towards" rather than the things they have NOW? I find that as a culture we have been taught to either live in the past (in regret or longing) or the future (in anticipation of all the things we think will make us happy). Let's be happy NOW!

I make it a daily practice to pause for a moment and count my blessings. Literally. Then I step away feeling grateful for my friends, family, and everything I have accomplished, and I know that right now, I am exactly where I need to be.

One Love & Music,

This Friday, August 19th, I take off for Kenya, Africa! I am going on a volunteer trip with Me to We and Free The Children, where I will have the opportunity to help build a school, go on safari, and experience everyday life in Nairobi and surrounding areas.

I am excited beyond words, and so grateful for this opportunity! I hope to also bring my music there and have the chance to perform for the children and other locals. Maybe Africa will also inspire me to write a new song :)

I'll be back with lots of exciting pictures and video! Can't wait to share it with all of you. If you would like to see more info on the program or consider going yourself, visit the Me to We link above!

One Love & Music,

Girls.

I need to take a moment to liberate the feminist within me.

B's song has sparked a flame in me. My favourite line is, "How we're smart enough to make these millions/Strong enough to bare the children/Then get back to business". Only a woman can get pregnant and be cooking, cleaning, keeping appointments, going to the gym and organizing a weekly book club, only to be back to work and looking fly within a year. And she'll always know where you left your keys, what time your doctor's appointment is and all of her friend's birthdays. A woman will get done what needs to be done long after the rest of the world has gone to sleep. If she has to, she will stay up all night making sandwiches, wake up at the crack of dawn to drive you where you need to go, and still squeeze in her hot yoga class.

Women are amazing. And they'll continue to be amazing even without credit for it. Thank one today :)

One Love & Music,

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Canada's largest hospital for kids with disabilities, presents Filmpossible, which brings visibility to disability through this contest. They are showcasing films and photos that show us how kids with disabilities experience life, focusing on both the ordinary, and sometimes extraordinary, aspects of living with disabilities.

Please watch and VOTE for my little buddies Gavin and Gabby!! xoxo

Contest details

One Love & Music,

The last two months of my life have been a constant struggle to balance work, life, music…and the NBA Playoffs! I’m a little relieved that it’s over and I can get back to my regular routine without agonizing over missing a crucial game.

I have to say that I’m SO HAPPY for Dirk and his team. Their win was past due!! They are a veteran team and true class act, and they deserve that recognition. There’s been a lot of heat lately (no pun intended) on the Heat for their behavior during the series. At first I didn’t really get it, but as the series went on I started to really see the contrast between the attitudes of a young team and a mature team, and I think it’s the side-by-side comparison between those two particular qualities that makes Miami’s flaws stand out more (maybe if they were playing the Bulls it would have been less obvious).

Bosh has also been getting a lot of flack for breaking into tears on his way to the locker room. People are calling him soft. Is that really necessary? Think about it. You’re a young NBA star, and have been dreaming about winning a championship since you first picked up a ball. Just BEING in the playoffs is a huge accomplishment - you don’t think you would be feeling a little bit overwhelmed? I don’t think he was even necessarily crying over the loss - I’m sure he was disappointed - but all those guys have been pumping pure adrenaline for weeks, and it finally came to a head. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a little bit of raw emotion. In many other settings we even embrace it. #HatersGonnaHate!

One Love & Music,

Ingredients:

1/2 cup uncooked quinoa

1/2 bag of frozen shelled edemame beans

1 red pepper

1/4 red onion

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

Combine the 1/2 cup of quinoa with 1 cup of water, and bring to a boil. As soon as the first bubbles appear, reduce heat to low and cover for 15 minutes (you’ll know the quinoa is cooked when you can see little white curls).

Boil the frozen shelled edemame beans for 5 minutes, then rinse in cold water (to stop them from cooking further). 

Finely dice the red pepper and red onion, and combine with the quinoa and edemame. Add olive oil, soy sauce and rice vinegar, and salt/pepper to taste. Toss & serve! (This dish can be served while the quinoa is still warm, or chilled as a salad).

Cheers to healthy eating! 

When I was in high school, I pretended.

I pretended to be cooler than I was.  Or should I say, “cooler” than I was. For example, I pretended not to like Country music, because where I came from, liking Country music was certainly not cool. But I was really digging LeAnn Rimes at the time. Even in elementary school, I pretended not to like Celine Dion because my friend saw the Celine Dion biography video that I had rented (yes, rented) and had laughed and snickered.

I suppose this is a normal part of growing up for a lot of people - pretending to be something you’re not, so that you can fit in. But then we all reach a point (hopefully) when we can live comfortably and confidently in our own shoes, no matter how funky those shoes may be. To finally be at a place in my life where I can be exactly who I am and not give a [insert expletive] about what people think, is a beautiful thing. I’m not afraid to be honest with people; I’m not afraid of what they’ll think if I like something they don’t like, or if I don’t do something that they do. I look in the mirror and I’m happy with who I am, and the decisions I make every day. I’m OK with the idea of people not liking me. I’m OK with being different, and today, if anything, I celebrate it.

I’m a singer/songwriter, and a bit of a nerd. I can't run very fast, and I think I have OCD. I’m also kind of a germaphobe. And I’m obsessed with scrapbooking. And it’s all wonderful.

One Love & Music,