It's not like it is in the movies

So, here’s the thing. We all want that perfect relationship. We all want skipping in a meadow, into a field of unbelievable bliss. But it’s never like that.

No one stands outside your window with beat box playing romantic music.

No one stands in the rain outside your house.  

It’s not like it is in the movies.

I may sound like a bit of a relationship Grinch. But isn’t it better to face reality?

Yeah… that’s what I thought.

Relationships are work. Work you really love. Or love to hate.

There is a show that I watch religiously. It’s probably familiar to you. It’s called Grey’s Anatomy.
Meredith and Derek’s relationship (the main couple) is perfect. Perfect in the sense they have had the ups and downs, they have loved each other, and hated each other and despite all that they love each other, through a plane crash, her trying to drown herself, and eventually, spoiler alert, Derek dies, and leaves Meredith.

But her words, “pick me, choose me, love me” resonate with me.

She built him a house of candles.

It’s the kind of relationship that gives us over the top ideas about what our relationship should be.

I think we want to live in that fantasy world; we want to be a part of something that makes us feel special and alive, but that’s so far from reality, we can only see it happen from the outside of a screen. .

You fight, and things get complicated, and messy. Like you had a kid that coloured your wall with non-erasable marker.  

Some arguments and disagreements bare the weight of 10 tons.

Some arguments are forgivable.

Some are not forgivable.  

We all hope deep down that our relationships will be perfect, that we’ll plan the perfect wedding on our Pinterest website, and we’ll get exactly every detail right.

But sometimes our relationship changes and we aren’t prepared. And we do not feel that it’s fair or even right. Your feelings might be different than your partner’s. Someone told me recently, what’s meant to be will be.

Not everything works out. Not everything is perfect. And even if you think that you have ruined everything, you probably haven’t. You just have to realize that people aren’t perfect and it’s not like it is in the movies.

Andthese days, friends with benefits attitudes rule relationships. Like meaningless sex and one-night stands are the key to all our commitment problems.

A drunken night where two bodies grind against each other in the hopes of attaining some sort of bliss.

Tinder rules the world of millennials, common TV shows now include them for simple humour. Yet we are filled with romantic ideas that are out of this world.

Yes, but that’s better than creepy Pinterest girl right?

Perhaps I’ve spent too much time thinking about it, wanting it; wanting the perfect relationship that only exist in movies.

The little girl inside me who pictured I’d meet the right guy and it would all just fall into place is gone now.

I’ve grown up. I’ve learned.

Relationships are hard work. The kind of work you love. And of course, sometimes hate.

But, let’s get real. You’re not Leonardo DiCaprio and I’m not Kate Winslet. It’s not going to happen that way. And its not like that was a happy ending

And as for how my story ends, we’ll I’ll have to get back to you on that one.

I'm here

Blogging hasn't actually been my thing lately. For the past year or so I've gone off the blogging grid.

For a number of reasons. School, mainly. Work, too. I've since joined the fast food life and it's treating me, well... like a fast food job.

So many things have happened in the months I've been away from my blog. I will be updating journalism pieces I've written, as well as much more.

I've experience many new things, and I've had to over come some challenges. But, hey, that's life.

Meet Meredith, my newest addition:

She's quite the little monster. But I love her nonetheless, we're hoping to make more additions to our fur family in the future. She's energetic and she likes carpets. Licks herself often, and runs into doors. Deficits yet to be determined. 

I've actually travelled. Yes, shocking, I know. Not far, not as far as some but I've been to places I thought I would never go. 

This summer was a summer to rival all summers. I went to PEI and Nova Scotia. And they were both experiences that have given me a tremendous insight into the things I enjoy doing. 

I spent the weekend in my first hotel stay in P.E.I. and I spent several weekends in Nova Scotia. As my significant others parents live there.
I also went on hiking adventures. Something I have never done before. It's exciting. It's challenging, because I do not have the "shape" I require to do long hikes. Shame on me.
But I did a couple of different trails this summer and a national park where I'm from.

This was a hike in Moosehorn and Laverty Falls. A long hike. 8km, from start to finish. But we got some amazing views.

Photo credit for the second one goes to my significant other. He takes amazing pictures. The scenery is amazing.

I should note that there is someone new in my life and he is amazing! Couldn't have asked for a better person in my life. He makes me very happy, but he doesn't like social media so much. So I'm going to respect his wishes regarding that.

School is going well (there will be journalism posts to follow), but yes, it takes a lot of work to be a journalism student. A lot of time an effort goes into putting together journalism video. A lot of work goes into putting together radio and print.
I've got one more year to my degree and their are a lot of changes coming in the future.

I don't like change. At all. But, here's to the future and all it holds.

10 reasons why Olivia Benson should be every girls role model

If you're not watching Law and Order: SVU you should make the point to do so!

The lead role of Sgt. Olivia Benson is played by Mariska Hargitay. SVU has been on the air for sixteen years and just announced a seventeenth season. I have watched Hargitay since season one, and though the content of this show may be harsh at times, it’s definitely real.

Olivia Benson is totally a strong female character that every girl should look up to. Let's just say, there's a reason Taylor Swift named her cat after her!

1. She is kind to everyone

One of the things I can say about Olivia is she's kind. I’ve seen her even be kind the people she is meant to put away. It takes a special type of person to be kind to everyone despite his or her faults.

2. She helps the victims

A lot of our culture is centered on blaming someone. Olivia pushes the boundaries, and fights each episode for the rights of the women and men she meets. We are always looking for reasons why things happen, but Olivia does a great job of putting aside the unnecessary and focusing on what's important - the victims.

Her victims are the most important people. She is a natural listener. And in a world of people with opinions, and some always having something to say. It's a great quality to have.

3. She doesn’t take crap from anyone 

One of Olivia’s most prominent characteristics is her attitude. She is a woman in a male-dominated field - she broke the gender bias! She doesn’t take the bullsh*t that the other characters throw at her. Instead, she shows them she is just as strong and establishes herself as a presence. Every girl should be confident in that way.

4. She is proud of who see is, naturally

Even when she's covered in blood, she manages to be flawless! Yes, I realize how awful that sounds but the statement cannot help but be true. Around here, we're used seeing cops in complete uniforms. That's not the case, at least not in most Law and Order shows. She pulls off "Sergeant" extremely well. She doesn't feel the need to conform to what society might think is pretty. She is just one cop trying to save the world.

5. She is loyal

Loyalty is a hard thing to come by these days. It’s a rare quality and those who posess it are special. She was a partner to Detective Stabler until he retired from the SVU squad. She stood by him, regardless of his sometimes erratic behaviour. Some fans even speculate she loved him. But, who wouldn’t? Have you seen Detective Stabler?

6. She's amazing with children [Spoiler Alert!]

Olivia doesn't just deal with adult victims, but children as well. Despite all the stress in her job, one thing you can tell about Olivia is that she loves kids. She puts aside her own childhood issues and aims to help those little kids. Recently, Olivia met a little orphan boy named Noah. Now, he's her own son!

7. She's dedicated

Olivia Benson is one dedicated person. She will do anything to help someone, even if that means putting herself in danger. And sometimes, that isn’t always a good thing (I'm not recommending you do that). But it does show how far she is willing to go to help her victims. There are several episodes where Olivia is ordered to go home and rest by her commanding officer. Why? Because she is freaking dedicated!

8. We aren’t invincible, and neither is she

Olivia has been through some tough stuff on SVU. She is a child of rape. Her mother was an alcoholic, and she has been victimized more then once on the show. Still, she manages to work through her troubles. She has showed that we are all affected. We can all feel sad and helpless at times. But, we must fight back. One of the most classic examples is her fear after being held captive for four days, of returning to her squad room and being treated differently. We all feel that way sometimes. Fear of being seen a certain way, right?

9. Mariska has been married to Peter Hermann for 11 years!

Though Olivia has been unable to capture this sort of lasting love, the actress herself has it down to perfection. These days having a lasting relationship in the celebrity spotlight is hard. Mariska makes the best of that by staying true to herself, her husband and her three children. She is a working woman who manages to keep her home life stable, and her fans impressed. What makes this even more awesome is that Peter Hermann and Mariska Hargitay met on the set of SVU!

10. Mariska's Joyful Heart Foundation

Inspired by the work she does on SVU, Mariska has an foundation called The Joyful Heart Foundation. The mission of this foundation is to educate, heal and support sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse victims. What a woman!

So, to recap: kindness, strength, selflessness, and love. This is why Olivia Benson - and Mariska Hargitay - should be every girl’s role model!

Law & Order: SVU © NBCUniversal

Off-Campus Survival Rules

If you live off-campus, chanced are when you leave your house in the morning you literally have to bring your entire life with you! In the morning, you pack everything necessary as if you are moving out of your house and you head to school (usually for the entire day).

So why not make it easier on yourself? Here's a list of tips to help you deal with the complexity and inconveniences of living away from campus.

1. Prioritize

We tend to overpack - literally. We overpack just in case. After all, you never know when an emergency might happen. So at night before bed, make a list of things you really need. You need your books, your lunch, computer (only if necessary), writing utensils and extra snacks, your bus pass, and your wallet. That covers your basics and leaves no extra stuff to add to the weight you have to carry.

An extra tip: if you are not expressly told to bring your textbook, don't bring it. They are massive and just not necessary!

2. Separate into different bags

Personally, I have two bags I carry to school. One is an over-the-shoulder, and the other is my book bag. This also helps distribute the weight. I use the over-the-shoulder for my computer, my lunch, and my water bottle, plus any small items I need like hand sanitizer, hand cream, and my wallet. I use my backpack solely for school books. This allows you to separate you weight and makes things much easier to carry!

3. Take the bus 

Yes, that’s right. Take the bus. I live a ten minute walk away from campus, but some days you just need to take the bus. But, for those of you who cannot or do not have the option to walk, take the bus. You pay for a bus pass, so use it like your life depends on it! Even though the bus schedule is hard to read and understand, take the time sit down and know the times and where you're headed.

4. Always take the earlier bus 

Speaking of buses! This will save you from the embarrassing walk into class late. Say you have class at 5:00 PM and you can take the 10N Carlisle to campus; catch the bus at 4:00 PM.  The bus will get to campus at 4:35 PM, so you have extra time to get yourself organized and prepared. I've made the mistake of catching the later bus many times - just avoid this situation as best as possible (and say good-bye to sleeping in).

5. Dress warmly

Yes, the bus is convenient, warm and fast. But sometimes it’s late. This time of year, you may find yourself standing out in the cold for a little longer then you expect. Always have good waterproof boots. I recommend wool-lined boots that can withstand -32°C weather. You can find boots like these at SoftMoc.

You'll also need a good jacket that can withstand the strong wind and the freezing temperatures. You will want a jacket that is extra-long and covers your back. Book bags tend to make your coats ride up, leaving your back exposed. You can find these at relatively good price at Walmart and will last you a couple of years. Of course, a scarf, hat, and mitts are necessary too. Do your best to avoid having your face over-exposed. Sometimes wrapping your face with an extra scarf can prevent that ice-cold cheek pain.

6. Pack a well-balanced meal

For this tip, I’ll just give you a recipe I would make to take with me for a long day on campus. This meal gives you protein and vitamins so you can deal with a long day on campus:

• 1 cup of white rice (cooked)
• 1 boneless/skinless chicken breast
• 1 cup of frozen vegetables
• 1 ½ tbsp. of teriyaki sauce (or sauce of your choice)

Directions:

Cook the chicken and rice separately. Cook veggies in the microwave and combine with the chicken once it’s cooked. Add rice and sauce.

Some snack suggestions: an apple (with some peanut butter for extra protein), two granola bars (one for now, one for later), a dessert (perhaps a cookie), and a refillable water bottle. Finally, make sure you carry some cash on you in case you need a little something extra!