The house I grew up in is for sale (pictures)
The house that I grew up in has been for sale many times since my parents sold it 13 years ago. I get excited every time I see the listing pop up. If I had the money, I'd buy this place back in a heartbeat.
Would you buy back the house you grew up in, if you could?
Here's the listing:
1745 BEACHBURG ROAD. via Realtor.ca
When I moved back to Ontario after working in Alberta for a year in 2011-2012 I specifically spoke with a mortgage broker (huge shout out to Kyle Miller) to line up my finances in case the house ever went up for sale (it wasn't at that time). I wanted to make sure I could buy it! Unfortunately, the stars didn't align that time.
I spent $40 on two bars of soap - you'll want to too when you read this story.
Full story via Imgur: http://imgur.com/gallery/YSgiu
"Soapmaking to raise money for my mom" by Imgur user Banjokanin.
“A little backstory:
My mom got diagnosed with leukemia half a year ago. It’s been rough on not only the family but specially her. Numerous admissions and infections, chemotherapy and pain is taking its toll. That’s why I started making soaps. Being creative and using my hands has always been something to make me relax. I decided to create an Etsy page, because I thought I could raise a little money to give her something to take her mind off her illness. ”
This story hits close to home for me. FUCK CANCER. As children of people who're fighting this bullshit, you feel kind of helpless. What can we do? How can we make things better? Regardless of how big or small a gesture, we have to do something. This lady chooses to make soaps!
She sells them out of her Etsy shop: SoapGardenDK in Denmark and ships 'em pretty much anywhere in the world. While the actual handmade bars of soap aren't all that pricey, the shipping can be (depending on where you live, obviously).
I found this young woman's attitude admirable and wish her and her family the absolute best. If you're looking for some feel good soaps - visit her shop. I ordered sandalwood and peppermint scented versions of what's pictured below!
Calgon, take me away (to Nordik)!
I'm 30. I've lived in Ottawa for 12 years and I've never been to Nordik Spa-Nature in Chelsea (Quebec).
Lucky for me, that all changed the fateful day they decided to follow me on Twitter...
Thanks for the follow @NordikSpaNature! I've never EVER been to Nordik but always hear the most wonderful things. ✌🏻️
— Amy Volume (@amyvolume) June 9, 2016
My first time at Nordik was juuuuuust right. Ryan & I started with the Thermal experience. You can choose this package ($51 Mon.-Thurs./$61 Fri.-Sun.) to have access to the saunas, spas and relaxation areas. This is the one most people go for at Nordik. You could easily spend an entire day going from spa to pool, sauna to relaxation in whatever order you want (though "hot - cool - hot - rest" is recommended).
Personally, I'm not huge on saunas. I did enjoy the Finlandia sauna. It was large and offered window seating (which I took full advantage of and lay down). I found this sauna the best for breathing and comfort as smaller, hotter saunas send me into some weird anxiety "I CAN'T BREATE IN HERE" panic (best to avoid).
The Tellura area was also pretty awesome. You lay down in a sauna like room on hot stone (quartz) slabs. While laying on stone slabs may not sound very comfortable, the heat of the room and radiating warmth from the stone is very calming.
Nordik's Källa treatment is the second of it's kind in the world. Källa offers unparalleled serenity in it's silent, underground setting. Guests can achieve total relaxation as theyfloat weightlessly in pure water saturated with 12% Epsom salts.
- Purifies body
- Improve blood circulation
- Accelerate wound healing
- Stimulates creativity
- Reduces stress
- Releases physical and intellectual tensions
- Reduces inflammation
The Källa treatment can be added on to your Thermal experience for an extra $40 and is also available as a stand alone service. Click the photo above for more information.
Since Ryan and I chose to go during the day (10am-2:30pm) we didn't go all out on a fancy meal at the restaurant but we did have some light lunch at the Panorama Lounge. The food and service were amazing. They have a great selection of fresh vegetarian options, too!
My favourite part of our four hours at Nordik was actually spent in Kaskad (the total silence zone) in the Ëdena (forest beach) area. They have these large floating beds at the back where you can easily drift off listening to the sound of waves. Just as the sun was peeking out, we lay there for a while after the Källa treatment.
All in all, I highly recommend making the 20 minute drive from downtown Ottawa to Chelsea's beautiful Nordik Spa-Nature. See for yourself why North America's largest spa is the go to getaway for so many people. Treat yourself to a mini vacation today!
Watch The Americans | #shomiSummer
ATTENTION!! внимание: shomi has launched a Streaming Club and I am leading The Americans show. This is your traditional book club debuting it’s 21st century make-over.
This week shomi launched their first Streaming Club and I've been asked to represent (let's be honest, BINGE WATCH is the more appropriate term here) The Americans – a show set in the 80s, where two Soviet intelligence agents pose as an American married couple to spy on the U.S. government.
With yesterday’s Emmy nomination announcement, it goes without saying that I am so pumped to be leading this title. (The Americans received five 2016 Emmy nominations for Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series and Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series!)
While this is NOT the typical light-hearted, "turn your brain off and zone out" fluffy, puppy, rainbow sparkles covered series I generally go for when it comes to binge watching - this is taking me back to the 80s, fully, to a time when the fears of the Cold War were felt here in Canada by my parents (I was just a baby, but they've told me about it.)
In Ottawa we literally sit on a stark reminder of the nuclear weapons threat; the Diefenbunker. Join me as we get caught up in the fashion, the tension, the history and sexy/dangerous adventures surrounding the world of international espionage with The Americans.
In addition, shomi is giving away the ULTIMATE STREAMING EXPERIENCE prize pack worth over $2,000 up for grabs. Join The shomi Streaming Club's official event page and use #shomiSummer when commenting for your chance to win* an Ultimate Streaming Experience prize pack including: Apple TV, a Samsung 60" TV, a Samsung Curved Sound Bar and a one year complimentary shomi subscription.
Yes... Watch TV and potentially win some amazing stuff by joining our shomi Streaming Club and commenting along the way! All of the *official contest details are here: http://bit.ly/29yYj8F
For more streaming suggestions, CLICK HERE.
There are a few perks to joining my #shomiSummer Streaming Club; streaming television is easy and takes little to no effort, SNACKS!!! can be fun as a solo OR group activity... Oh, did I mention the prizes?
To win the #shomiSummer Streaming Club's Ultimate Hosting Package, simply join me in streaming Season 1 of The Americans, comment on my Facebook Page (Amy Volume) Blog Post and tell me what show you love binge-watching! Winner will be chosen at random.
You're also invited to join my live stream video party when we wrap Season 1 of The Americans the week of July 25th – more details to come.
Keep in touch with me via social media for more!
#shomiSummer - Happy streaming! :)
Being asked to PROVE a disability is like being punched in the face.
TL;DR: Accessibility Policy of local music festival needs revision to avoid failing those with "invisible" disabilities.
I want to approach last night's personally humiliating situation with a caring and understanding disposition. I mean, maybe people fake handicaps to get special treatment? That's really unfortunate for people like me who have a (sometimes) invisible disability.
I do not have a ParaTranspo account and driving was not an option with the extreme road closures. My partner and I decided to Uber to the location but were dropped off fairly far away due to said closures. Hundreds of people including police and security witnessed me "doing my best" to walk (which was more of a painful hobble) from Scott and Preston down to Wellington.
Once there, we were told by a security person to talk with the accessibility volunteers working a gate that was fairly close by.
"Yes!" I'm thinking. "Finally, we can get in and sit down!" Because at 30, I have to sit down at a concert because it's too painful to stand for a length of time.
July 13 EDIT: We were instructed by a police officer and festival security to speak with staff at the Para Transpo/Accessible Entrance gate to gain nearer entry to festival grounds. At that gate, volunteers told us we couldn't enter without proving my disability. Look down and to the right for some of the things security asked me for. None of these items are listed under the festival's "Accessibility Policy" so there is no way for festival goers to know.
As a result, we had to walk to the main gate which was much further away. It was very painful.
I don't want to relive the experience that keeps playing over and over in my head this morning... It was humiliating, spirit breaking and poorly handled. This is the same shit I've been dealing with my entire life - "where's your proof"?
Being a meticulously over prepared person by nature, I wasn't expecting to be caught off guard. I checked and double checked what was OK to bring into the grounds. We Ubered as close as we possibly could to spare me pain and energy (I have a limit). I did not know I needed any of these extra things to prove what was last night (and what has been this last couple weeks) visible: my disability.
If it wasn't my favorite artist playing I would have left.
I was so upset that I cried while limping to the main gate.
I cried while security watched us enter the main gate.
I cried when my partner was approached by the leader of the accessibility services team with bracelets to the accessibility area for concert viewing as a way to try to make up for our shitty start to the night. (???)
Things security suggest I do:
- Bring them my handicapped parking permit
- Provide a doctor's note
- Call my manager, a coworker or former coworker to corroborate my claims of being physically handicapped
I'm 30 and have had Rheumatoid Arthritis for 28.5 years. I have good days and bad days. My body has been at war with itself, literally eating away at joints from my toes to my neck (everything except my back is affected). Not only does RA wreak having on bones and joints, the three decades of drug use has killed my stomach, esophagus and organs used to filter said medicines.
“Emotionally, it takes a toll. It is a pretty unreal feeling to wake up and learn that every day brings you new life lessons about what you are no longer capable of. Like, “Oh shit. I guess I can’t use scissors anymore!” That’s my reality.”
Despite spending a lot of my childhood in hospitals (CHEO, SickKids and Hugh McMillan) I didn't grow up focusing on the things I can't do. I focus instead on the things I can.
I can use my voice to ask YOU the public and concert/festival/venue organizers to be better at not making people with a lot going against us feel like you're against us, too.
Please clearly post or state that in order to benefit from an accessible entrance or accessibility services, one must bring proof of one's disability. In my case, going home to retrieve proof was not an option physically.