Time to Share #22

A few weeks ago I announced that I would be having my first guest blogger! Well here is here first post.

You may have heard me talk about Bethan before. She is one of my best friends, and a young woman who as wisdom beyond her age. Hope you enjoy her points of view.

Kindness--

I can honestly say that I would never see myself as a being a guest blogger, but when my good friend Stacy asked me I jumped on the opportunity! It took me awhile to decide what to write on and it came to me as I was at school last week....

I am currently attending Olds College, I am married and I am quite a bit older than my classmates. I have tried to be as helpful to my classmates as I can throughout the year: explaining different aspects, or helping them with a question or even studying with some students that are struggling. I got asked the other day why I take the time to help others, doesn’t it slow me down and doesn’t it not allow me to finish my work as quickly? I am a very talkative person and at that moment I found myself dumbfounded, I didn’t really know what the person meant or how they wanted me to react. This got me thinking...

I do not think of myself when helping someone or even how they are slowing me down. I look at it as I help others and they help me. A lot of my classmates do not feel that they help me; they do not realize that it is a great feeling for me to help them. If I needed help I know someone will be there to help me, and even if it isn’t an action that I can explain, by allowing me to help them they have helped me. I like that kindness in contagious, if I show my kindness others may pass it on.

This quote says it best by Barbara De Angelis,

“Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.”

This takes me to a time when I needed help... I was about 2 hours away from home in the truck. I realized that I was low on fuel and was not going to make it home so I pulled into the gas station, I just put in 20 bucks enough gas to get home. I got the till and realized I didn’t have my wallet in my purse it was in the car, I knew exactly where it was. I explained the gas attendant my story and was curious if I called my husband if they could take his VISA number and charge the card for the gas I had already put in the truck. The gas attendant said it wouldn’t work and I was mortified at this time the man behind me stood forward and paid for my gas. I asked if I could get his address I would pay him back, he told me just to pay it forward.....

That man, which I never did even get a name from, had a huge impact on my life that day and from that day on. I didn’t make my life about creating these heart warming stories, but simply to just bring kindness into the world. If it is helping a student in class or just by sending a random text to a special friend or smiling and saying hello to a stranger. I don’t think there is anything bad about bringing happiness into the world.

Here is another quote to explain what I mean, by Leo Buscaglia,

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

So as I write this blog and you read it I hope that it has made you think twice about being kind to others. Here is a list of 10 simple acts of kindness maybe you could consider and may change someone’s life and not even realize it:

1. Send someone you care about a random message telling them you are thinking about them

2. Tip 100% for good service at a restaurant

3. Tell someone how much they mean to you

4. Smile and say hello to a stranger as you walk by

5. Let the person that is such a hurry behind you just go in front of you

6. Give your seat up to someone else in a public place

7. If you see someone else in trouble...stop and help

8. Pay for the person behind you in line at Tim Horton’s

9. Send an random card to someone in the mail (everyone loves getting good mail)

10. Donate to a charity

11. Just Smile...it will spread and bring a smile to others around you.

I hope this blog leaves you with a perspective in life that being kind can make a difference. Anyone can make a difference in this world I will leave you with one final quote by Theodore Rubin,

“Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom.”

Time to Share #21

This weeks Time to Share is taking a different spin. I want to talk a little bit about where I find inspiration for my life.When it comes to clothes and dressing there is one style icon that I turn to... Victoria Beckham. To me Victoria has the best style of anyone in Hollywood. It is a mix of high end dressing with the occasional dressed down look.My love of Victoria Beckham started when she was a Spice Girl. In the early 90's she rocked a sophisticated style that none of the other girls had. In there come back tour, she kept her Posh style with a new haircut and some glamorous looks.
She can go from looking extremely glamorous on the red carpet to flying over seas in a comfortable and casual style, without looking like a slob. I really admire this about her.
I also am a huge fan of her hair. One of my favorite looks has to be the sever angle bob that she had a couple of years ago. I think this cut looked great on her, and even cut mine like that.
Recently, Victoria has become a major fashion designer. She started with a denim line, and now has grown to a full collection every spring and fall. I have pulled a few of my favorite looks that she has designed the last couple of years.

Time to Share #20

Wow, it seems like it was just a few weeks ago that I started Time to Share.. and now we are already on #20!

This week I want to feature another of my favorite blogs to read. Although this is another agriculture blog, it is very different from anything that we get in Canada. Sure there are stories or breeding, showing, flushing, and the fun that goes down on the farm, but this blog has a very different twist.

Luke and Catherine live in Texas and have a very successful Shorthorn and Brahman herd of cattle. In Canada we do not have very many "American" or eared breeds of cattle.

One of my favorite things about their blog is the pictures!! Both Luke and Catherine are excellent photographers and take pictures of everything that they do! They also give you a little insight into their days while keeping it light and pretty funny.

Check out their blog for a great read and to see some really cool pictures!

http://ourlittleranchintexas.blogspot.com/

PS. A little background story. About 2 years ago Luke won a trip to come to Canada and the Calgary Stampede. Our family, and extended family showed Luke around for the time that he was here. He kept telling us stories of the ranch in Texas, but we never really got it. We don't have eared cattle here, so the mental visualization just was not there. It is great to now be able to see exactly what Luke was talking about!

Time to Share #19

This week I am going to feature another of my favorite blogs to read.

Cattle.com does a tremendous job profiling the happenings of the cattle world in the USA. During Denver each year they take footage and interviews of as many bulls as possible to post for those of use not able to attend.

They also do a great job of giving some results and updates on livestock shows going on.

This was a post that was made last week. I love how it is truly unbiased and honest.

Check it out!

www.cattle.com

Time to Share #18

This week I want to share with you a few of my favorite looks from the Fall/Winter 2010 collections at the recent fashion weeks.

Hope you enjoy these as much as I do!

Time to Share #17

As promised Time to Share is back. This week I really I want to feature one of my favorite blogs to read.

Tiffany is a friend of my sisters. I have never met her, but found her blog through Crystal's. Tiffany always has lots of great agriculture blogs. It is funny how much we have in common, or like the same things. I have often went onto her blog and found a post about something that I have been thinking about posting about.

Maybe one day Tiffany's and my paths will cross. Until then I will enjoy reading her blog and learning more about her.

Check out Tiffany's blog

Catching Up

Now that the Olympics are over, I have so much catching up to do both around the house, and on my blog.

Ever since the Olympics have finished I have been encouraged to get healthier. With my new job I have access to our hotel gym. I am making a promise to myself to work out at least twice a week. I have also been trying to accomplish one of my 101 in 1001, which is to go skating 20 times this winter. So far I have only been twice, so need to get my but in gear.

I have also been trying to get home as much as possible. Not only are there baby calves everywhere, but we also have 7 5 week old border collie puppies. If there was such thing as miniature border collies I would have one in a minute! Personally I don't think that there is anything cuter.

My roommate Brett also left to Costa Rica for 6 weeks. This means I have the house to myself, and can get caught up on lots of projects that are partially done. The first thing on my list was to do my taxes. I finished that last night, and now I am moving onto finishing my Thailand scrapbook.

We have also booked out tickets to New York for May long weekend. I have been making lists of things that I would like to do while we are there. One of my new finds is the The Museum at the FIT . Hopefully the girls will also wanna stop here too!

I am hoping to get back to Time to Share every Wednesday. Stay tuned to see what I have to share tomorrow!

Time to Share #18

This week's Time to Share is another website that I really love.

I may be a slight bias due to the fact that EDJE id the host and creator of our farms website, but they truly do offer a great service.

Their company really is complex. They not only do website design, sale broadcasting and bidding, and graphic design, but with their huge client base, it becomes a place to find all of the latest updates in the agriculture industry.

I personally love to go onto the main cattle page and see what websites have been updated. There are usually 10-20 pages that are updated daily. This time of year it makes it really easy to see who has a new bull sale catalog online or new genetics in their herds.

Ever since EDJE has taken over COWS clients, there are way more Canadian websites listed in addition to the hundreds of US sites.

Take a look when you get a minute, and while your there make sure to view High Country Cattle Services as well! We always have weekly updates, and information about the farm!

http://edje.com/directory/index.php?type=Cattle&linkname=update

Time to Share #16

About 6 months ago I heard this song during our dance class. I searched and searched to find out who it was by, or what it was called.

My search ended today. Yahoo.ca had an article about a young lady who was from Canada, and is nominated for Best R&B Song. I had a hunch that it was the right song, and to my relief it was!

Melanie Fiona is from Ontario, and has been trying to make it big in the music business for a while. She went to LA to meet with record labels and they all told her the same thing; you look great and sound great.

The problem was that she knew as soon as they started to record they would try to change her. She went back to Ontario, and worked on her own. She is now a Grammy nominated singer, and I sure am hoping for her.

Check out the song, I love the R &B and jazz feeling of it. In a way she sounds like Amy Winehouse, without the drama and being a mess.

Time to Share #14

Another week has come and gone, and another week to feature one of my favorite things!

This week I wanted to feature another website that is very close to me... mainly because I am part of the website!

High Country Cattle Services is our farm. We have had a website for a year or more now, but have made some changes as of this week. We will now be posting blogs on there about things happening on the farm, or agriculture.

On our website you can find our Donors and elite females, our new herdsires and also anything that is for sale. There is a new video that is up that is pretty cool if you want to check it out!

www.highcountrycattle.com

Time to Share #13

This weeks Time to Share I am going to feature another blog that is a favorite of mine.

My sister Crystal has a great blog that covers a variety of topics. One day she will be talking about the great cowboy boots that she found, and the next about her outing at a K-State football game.

Take a look at it for some pretty good reads.

http://www.cdycattle.blogspot.com/

Time to Share #12

This weeks Time to Share we are going to feature a website/blog that I love. It falls in with my love of fashion and clothing.

Red Carpet Fashion Awards is based out of London. This woman has made a career of critiquing fashion choices, knowing all of the latest designers and shopping. Sounds like a pretty great job to me!

This week they are profiling the best of 2009. There are some pretty neat polls that are going on. Take a look for yourself, and maybe something will inspire an outfit for your next outing!

http://www.redcarpet-fashionawards.com/

Time to Share #10

This week again we will take another turn in what I feature.


I love to shop, this is no surprise. What may come as a surprise is that this year for Christmas, I have no idea what I want... Shocking I know!


Tonight I did a little bit of browsing so that I could come up with some ideas. I went into one store that I love, and it officially became my favorite home store.


Urban Barn is a upscale, contemporary, home store. It has everything from major furniture to kitchen accessories. Tonight I fell in love with 2 pieces there. There was a mirrored coffee table, and a mirrored hall table (pictured below). One day I would love to have both of these in my house, if only they had a little bit lower price tags.
Below are some of my other favorite pieces from the store. Happy Shopping!

www.urbanbarn.com

Time to Share #9

This week I want to go back to featuring one of my favorite websites.

Jetsetter.com is a members only website that has discount hotels for its members. Each week there are 3-4 hotel or resorts that have rooms at severely discounted rates. Most cases you are looking at 40-60% off!Now these hotels are not just your regular Ramada or Holiday Inn, but some of the most exclusive and high end hotels around the world. Many are in the US, however, there are also occasional destinations to Thailand, Jordan, France, and Mexico.

While most of us are not able to afford these hotels during our holidays, with the discounted prices, most of them become the same rate that you would pay at a much lower class hotel. And even if we do not stay at some of these amazing destinations at least it keeps us dreaming of a wonderful escape during the winter months!

Time to Share #8

So I know that this is one day late, but with Agribition going on things have been a little crazy. This weeks time to share will be very different from previous.

This week I want to feature and introduce you to a program called FrostWire. This is very similar to LimeWire in that it is a program that downloads media. Everything from pictures, to videos and music.

The big difference between LimeWire and FrostWire is the speed of downloads. It takes a matter of seconds to download songs compared to minutes. It is designed the same, so it is easy to navigate. The best part is the free download, and it takes only a few minutes to install.

I know when I get home from Agribition I will be adding a lot of new songs to my playlists!

Time to Share #7

I know I missed last week, but with Farmfair going on, it just was not at the top of my mind.

This week I am again profiling a website that I enjoy. Except it has developed into so much more then just a website.

Live Auctions is a sale broadcasting system. It provides live sale coverage, and bidding to many of the sales across Canada and the US. It has also developed into broadcasting shows.

More recently, Brad and his team have come up with a magazine that supports the sales. It now is one of my favorite magazines to read. It is always full of great articles and amazing ads.
For $50 you can receive the magazine and also have unlimited access to all of the shows and sales. Definitely worth the price tag!

www.liveauctions.tv is the website, and I encourage you all to check it out.

Time to Share #6

Wow 6 weeks already! This week for Time to Share, we are going to give the blogs a break and go back to one of my favorite websites. Except this week it is actually 2 websites.

Grant Rolston and Browarny Photographics are two of my most visited websites. Both of these companies are the main livestock photographers in Canada, and now are reaching out into the US as well.

During the major shows their are daily updates of the events that are happening. Whether it is candids from the ring, or the champions winning, I love to see what is going on at the shows that I am not able to attend.

With the roll of cattle shows starting to happen I know I will be visiting these sites lots, and if you do happen to check them out, you might just see a familiar face or 2!

http://grantspix.com/
http://www.showchampions.com/

Time to Share #5

This weeks Time to Share takes a different twist.

I love to eat, and surprisingly I love to cook as well. I just don't ever seem to find the time, and know what to make.

The Food Network not only has a great line-up of shows, but they also have a great website in which they post all of their recipes to. So you really are getting some 5 star meals, that are easy to prepare.

www.foodnetwork.com

Time to Share #4

I know I have been behind on my blogging, but I have been extremely busy these last few weeks with lots of new projects. I will be sure to fill you in on them shortly.

This weeks Time to Share combines a few of my favorite things. Weddings, fashion, and one of my favorite TV shows- Say Yes to The Dress on TLC.

Kleinfeld's is one of the most famous bridal stores in the world, and has brides that come from every corner to find their dream wedding dress. Their dresses simply are stunning if you can afford the 3,000-30,000 price tags that hang on them!

The TV show Say Yes to The Dress profiles clients that come into the store, and their bridal consultants. It is really fun to watch the women try on different dresses and hear their stories.

This blog is all about Kleinfeld's and allows me to dream... Dad already told me that the most he would spend on a dress was $3000! Big mistake letting that go dad!

http://www.kleinfeldbridal.com/blog.cfm

Time to Share #3

As many of you know this last May we took our first annual girls trip to Vegas. I absolutely fell in love with the city, and from the moment we felt have wanted to go back.

Now with my parents going to Vegas this weekend to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary I find myself looking at deals to head down there again.

This blog that I follow highlights deals, entertainment, places to visit, etc. It is great to find some ideas for things to do while your down there.

http://blog.vegas.com/