A bunch of us ladies were in an airport waiting on our plane having a long conversation about how people should open their mind to new things.  The conversation went in the direction of thinking outside the box when it comes to the types of guys you’d typically go for. Is it that we know what we like? If we’ve never tried something different, how do we know we don’t like it? Do we assume that other types of guys don’t like us?

There are so many question as to why we go for what we go for, but I guess the answer is in just trying.

We took the flight, got off the plane and went to grab our bags. On the way out, a TDH (tall dark and handsome) man (totally not my girlfriends type but definitely a good looking guy) was walking past us, and when he saw my girlfriend, it was like he found his princess. He was awestruck and she had the nerve to look down and keep it moving and add ‘omg he’s so hot’. What? Hello??? How is he going to put himself out there and approach someone who clearly has given him no indication that she is interested?

Initial Eye Contact.

If you’re looking to meet new people or expand your ‘repertoire’, please, if a man looks at you and you like what you see, don’t look down and keep walking. Throw him a half smile or smile with your eyes or something. This will give him a bit of confidence if he decides to approach you and it’s a cute flirtatious gesture.

xoxo,

Lowe

Someone annoyed me today when I took the time out of my busy day to do them a favor. It got me thinking about how in this day and age, it’s all about the hook-up. “can you hook me up with concert tickets, hotels, a booth, a job, a discount” etc.

As much as some favors are so tiny and don’t necessarily need a huge production of gratitude, just remember that someone went out of their way to do something for you or ask one of their connections to go out of their way for you.

This reminds me of a time I messed up with a favor. Someone pulled a bunch of strings for me once and I phoned to thank them. As I look back, I feel like there were probably more people involved in helping me out than I knew of and should have sent a Thank You card to the office where they all worked. It would have been so much more effective, had I taken the time to pick, write and send a card.

UGH, I still think about that!

Anyways, here are a few points that we should all remember when asking someone for a favor:

-don’t expect anything, you’ll be disappointed

-don’t complain about what you get. If you ask for free concert tickets and you’re in the nosebleeds, be happy that you got the chance to go.

-follow-up with a thank you card or email (ohhh technology)

-be grateful

xoxo,

Lowe

I am definitely going through a shift in my life right now. My priorities are changing, the level of responsibility is different, I have accomplished things and have failed at things as well. As much as I feel a little confused, I know something really great is in store for me. I’m sure I’m not the only one who is feeling this. In fact, every spring, I seem to feel like this. It must have to do with the grueling, dark winter months coming to an end and the springtime and sun starting to show brightness and inspiration!

During my weekly Saturday visit to Chapters, I found an amazing journal to help with evaluating life, setting new goals and getting on track with recognizing the past, evaluating intentions and setting goals for the future! The actual process of writing and acknowledging your goals and intentions can be really hard so this book helps organize your thoughts and stimulate new ideas.

The journal has different sections like “work + passion”, “love + connection”, “mind + body”, “creativity + inspiration” and “spirit + mindfulness”, with an intro page explaining the section, some questions for you to think about and lots of place to write down your thoughts, answer the questions and set goals.

Today’s daily dose is the first quote you see when you open the journal

*turns off blackberry, goes to a quite sunny place, starts writing*

xoxo,

Lowe

Intentions + Goals is available at Chapters.Indigo for approx $22 Cdn

January 17th-Kingston, Jamaica

Written in my blackberry:

As I sit in the back of a car drinking overproof (63%) rum and coke, after getting stopped for a burnt out headlight by three Jamaican policemen that surrounded the car with their hands on their guns, I realize that this stop could go one of two ways. I suddenly remember an issue I’ve been wanting to address for a while; And that is diplomacy.

Watching my friend’s charisma in negotiating with the police officers to find a common ground of respect and understanding, reminded me that being nasty, defensive or snooty will get you no where. By the end of the stop, my friend and the officer were joking about a common store they bought peppers at as children!

Having grown up with a father in show biz, he always used to tell me, “make sure to be nice to everyone on the way to the top because you never know who’ll be there on the way down”. What great life advice that was especially in this day in age where gossip is so popular. I see our generation being a little too consumed with judging other people for what they see as faults or imperfections, when to me, that translates into jealousy or envy. You might think to yourself, “why do people even care about my life”, but for some reason they do.

Socially, if people are talking about you in a negative way, business wise, if a colleague is putting you down to impress the boss or even randomly if someone whom you’ve never met before is spreading rumors about your life, don’t take it personally. On the flip-side, if you are about to write a rude comment, dismiss a co-worker or devalue someone just because you’re having a bad day, remember that may be the person you encounter in a time of need.

Just be nice, have compassion, and be diplomatic!

Peace be with you all,

Lowe

On Sunday stylist, June Ambrose tweeted something that encouraged me to live a more active lifestyle.

Memories! To recall events or recognize previous experiences is something you do in the future but ‘creating’ memories is something you can control in the present!

I’m a very social person and travel more than the average person and having a blog also helps document experiences but I still have a list of things I want to see and do that are out of my ordinary day-to-day life. Example: I’ve been to Vegas 25 times and have never seen Cirque du Soleil, I’ve lived in Toronto for 8 years and have never been to Toronto Island. I want to watch ballets and plays, go to exhibits, travel to far-away places with friends and family, experience things I may never get to see when I’m older and settled down. We get so used to our day-to-day regime  and tend to revisit places we’ve been to in the past but in 2010, I want to try new things, see new places, experience different settings and create memories in the process!

June’s tweet reminded me to take advantage of every day and create lasting memories that we (friends and family) can look back on in the future. Be active in creating out-of-the-norm experiences for yourself so that you can look back and feel as if you had a full and exciting life!

What is one thing you want to do that you’ve never done?

xoxo,

Lowe

First lets start with the definition of astrology:

Astrology is as old as civilization and its history shows that people from many different cultures and belief systems have always looked for extra insight and answers to life’s problems. There is an array of different traditions and methods used to forecast and guide us and I wanted to share a few of them with you and get your take on the whole thing:

1. Zodiac

We have all seen horoscopes in newspapers or looked for compatibility in our mates by analyzing their star signs. The zodiac is a ‘wheel’ which portrays all 12 star signs in sequence taking in the relation of planets to the earth. Your star sign is decided by the time, day, month and year you were born. Examples of signs are: Leo (me & coco’s sign), Aries, Pisces, Gemini, Capricorn etc.

2. Chinese Astrology

Chinese astrology is quite different in that the twelve zodiac signs are not divided by the stars but by the equator. Instead of a sequence of signs, each sign corresponds to the twelve ‘double hours’ in a day, to the twelve months of the year to the twelve year cycle. Although Coco & I are both Leos, our chinese astrological signs are different. I’m a Rat and Coco’s a Monkey. Other signs include: Rabbit, Ox, Rooster, Dragon etc.

3. Tarot

Tarot cards are a deck of 78 picture cards that are said to reveal hidden truths. There are two ways to have a tarot reading: question readings or open readings, but keep in mind that these readings shouldn’t be taken as the answers to your problems but a guide to help you make certain decisions. Through my past experience with Tarot readings, they will tell you a few things from your past and then help guide you with your future. Make sure to keep an open mind, stay positive and keep it about you. It’s your reading after all!

4. Akashic Records

Akashic records are like energetic records. This concept is a little hard to understand as there is no solid ‘record’ or ‘book’. The records are basically the book of your life through memories and emotions. Akashic Record readers are people who are able to decode feelings, emotions and get to the root cause of what holds you back by removing doubt and fear from your life. It’s like a session where they tap into your energy and give deep guidance and inspiration by helping you work through your past as far back as past lives (if you believe in that).

5. Turkish Coffee Cup Reading

Turkish coffee is unique in the way it is ground. It basically ends  up being powder that you stir with boiling water and because it is so thick, the bottom of your cup is not drinkable. What you would them do is take the saucer and place it upside down over your cup. In a quick motion, you’d flip it so now the cup is sitting upside down on the saucer. You have to wait about 5 minutes for the remnants of coffee to dry up and in those five minutes you reflect on your life, what you want to know, how you feel etc. Turkish cup readers are then able to sit with you and read the inside of the cup and guide you through past experiences or help you determine which path to take with future endeavors and relationships.

These are just a few ways people tap into their past and get guidance on their future through energy and the stars but what do you guys think of all this? Are you a believer? Have you ever had a reading of any sort? If so, did you like it or did you feel like it was a bunch of B.S?

Leave a comment!

xoxo,

Lowe

The other day I stumbled upon a comment about myself that included this:

My mind was blank for a split second, and then I smiled, a great big smile based on the fact that whoever was willing to devalue a ‘waitress’ must be completely oblivious to the potential earnings and pros of serving.

Everyone chooses their own path and I chose to spend my weekdays working on the bigger picture and my weekends socializing, meeting new people, building relationships with strangers I may never see day-to-day, and making some cash while doing it! I mean, it’s not easy to stay up until 6am cashig out and then attend a meeting or school at 10am, but it’s the sacrifice some of us are willing to make in order to make our dreams come true. I don’t know very many people who haven’t served at a restaurant or waitressed at a club. In fact some of the most successful women I know bought properties and started businesses with the money they were able to accumulate through slugging beers and serving cocktails.

The owners of Ritual Spa on King St. are a perfect example of where being ‘just a waitress’ can get you, best described on their website.

Take a look:

If it weren’t for waitressing, I wouldn’t have made it through school (and yes I went to school), I would have never been able to run away to Los Angeles for three months of dance training, or travel the world on my own. If it weren’t for waitressing, I wouldn’t know half as many people as my eclectic circle of friends proves and my entrepreneurial and improvisational instincts wouldn’t exist. But most importantly, if it weren’t for waitressing, I would have never met Coco.

So, as you are sitting at your desk sipping your morning coffee, or reading this while snuggled up in bed or maybe even as you are just getting home from an overnight shift at the hospital, remember that we all have a different story and different skills that make us who we are. If you respect your job and perform as if it was your own business, regardless of what that job may be, you are destined for greatness and don’t ever let other’s insecurities or judgements make you feel inferior!

I AM A WAITRESS….AND WHAT!?

xoxo,

Lowe