We had a baby!

Hello Nelly Belliers!

Well a lot has changed since I last posted on July 31st! Yikes! I'm going to skip the boring updates, because nothing compares to the fact that we now have a beautiful baby girl! Yes, that's right, I'm a new mum and I love it! Our daughters name (it still feels somewhat crazy to say that I have a daughter) is Ella (middle name Louise) and she is absolutely gorgeous. She was born in October so she just recently turned 5 weeks old. Time is already whipping by!

Ella Louise & my blog

I'm not going to regurgitate what I wrote on my new 'Baby' page. I am simply going to direct you to the link. :) This new page is my blog post for today and I hope it gives you a better understanding of where I am with life and blogging. Let the new journey begin... click here to read about Ella, becoming a mum, and the new direction of my blog and YouTube videos.

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"Having a baby is a life-changer. It gives you a whole other perspective on why you wake up every day." ~ Taylor Hanson

4 Months - Gone Like the Wind

Hello Nelly Belliers!

I'm not sure what made me log onto my blog today, possibly the fear that it would take me months to clean up my email account... but I have to say that I was completely shocked that I haven't posted a blog in 4 months! It's amazing how fast time can pass you by! I thought 'no, this can't be right, there must be a mistake with blogger' - but alas it is true.

What has happened in 4 months?

1. We have moved to the other side of Canada.

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!

From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

2. We found a place to live (after  my family kindly took us in - Nelly and all).

3. The love of my life proposed to me and we are now officially engaged!

4. I housed a baby and am now in my third trimester and the nugget bump is getting bigger and bigger each day! (We call her nugget as a nickname)

5. I started a new job but with a company I have worked for before. I am loving it. Definitely lucked out there!

6. We found out we are having a precious little girl - and we have chosen a name... we won't be revealing this until she is born though. So stay tuned!

7. Nelly is now called Nelson - just kidding! She is doing well, aside from having to deal with my hormones. I've posted some pics below so you can see how grown up she is now!

8. My niece turned 9! 

9. I finally bought a crock pot and can't wait to try out some new recipes. Stay tuned for those as well.

I think that's a good update for the time being. I just wanted to check in and say that I am still here, and that I have not, nor will not forget about my blog. It will continue.... starting now!

PICS

A little recap of the past 4 months in photo format. Enjoy!

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"Dachshunds are ideal dogs for small children, as they are already stretched and pulled to such a length that the child cannot do much harm one way or the other." ~ Robert Benchley

Guess Who's Back? Me!

Hello Nelly Belliers!

Sorry it's been a while since I've posted a blog. Life has been hectic to say the least. 

I thought it was about time that I filled you all in on at least one major thing that's happening in our lives right now. I think not being able to talk about certain things (due to the right timing, etc) has been part of the reason that my blogs have been on pause. It's hard when you can't talk about the major things that are happening in your life. It almost feels like you are forcing yourself to talk about things because you can't talk about the truth. Well the good news is that I can finally share something with you all..........

We are moving! Now, you may be thinking what's the big deal? Well, we are moving across the country! I finally convinced my lovely man to move away from his family and friends, so that I could be closer to mine. Selfish much? He he. Seriously though, he is AMAZING for agreeing to this major life decision (definitely the man of my dreams), but he definitely wouldn't do it just for me. He wants a change as well and we are both excited for this new adventure. We also didn't make this decision over night. We have been mulling it over for months and months, making hundreds of pro and con lists, and then finally one day we said "ok let's do this". They say in life you'll know when you know, and that was the case for us (although at some point you do need to make a decision or everything will remain as is).

I think the best thing to do in life is remember that nothing is set in stone. If for some reason it doesn't work out, we can always come back. That's been one of the motto's for my life, which has allowed me to move to different places in Canada and to New Zealand, and which has allowed me to push myself and expand my comfort zones. I highly recommend it! 

We have so much to do and so little time. We are driving across Canada in about 1 months time! Lots of purging, packing, and passing stuff on to family to do! I am going to try and vlog our drive across the country, but if for some reason the video thing doesn't work out, I will definitely blog our journey. Hopefully you guys will enjoy seeing what Canada has to offer!

What do urine samples and Canadian beer have in common? The taste.

NELLY

Nelly is now 10 months old and she is excited for the big move (well at least that's what I think she's saying to me when she stares at me with a blank "what is this woman talking about" look). I know she is going to love the west coast lifestyle. She will get to do lots of hiking, and there will be so many new smells to enjoy (especially the ferns).

What do I love about Nelly now? She is still very sweet and loves all people and all dogs. She definitely has an amazing temperament and all she wants to do is love, love, love. She has also been a quick learner of our new "no more coming up on the couch" rule. We have implemented this rule for a few reasons, one being that she won't be allowed up on the couch where we are living temporarily due to the lovely leather fabric that she would scratch up in two seconds. We only had to tell her about two or three times, and that was that. She has her dog bed on the floor, and she is totally fine. It just goes to show you what we think we know about dogs isn't always true.

What am I not loving about Nelly right now? Nelly is food obsessed. I know some of you are going to say all dogs are, or that your dog is too, but I am honestly talking about a whole new level of obsession. To the point where family and friends have said to me "wow she really is food obsessed" or "I thought my dogs were bad". We are trying to work on this, but it's really hard. I am constantly watching her and sometimes I feel like I'm going crazy. I'm hoping she will grow out of it a bit. We shall see!

What's new with Nelly's physique and health? Nelly is tiny. Ironically, we actually asked for the biggest puppy, but clearly we got the runt (which is totally fine). Go runts go! She is probably not going to grow any more, other than filing out. The upside of this is that it's easy to travel with her! She is compact and easy to carry. The next update is that Nelly has had some issues recently with food allergies. We had to take her off her Acana puppy food and she is now a vegetarian (she is obviously adopted since I am a meatatarian). We bought this special food from the vet that is for dogs with allergies, and it seems to be working. I can't remember the name of it right now, but I will make sure to find for an upcoming blog post!

PICS

Who doesn't love a good pic? Here's a bunch from the past while to catch you up on things!

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"Learn a lesson from your dog - No matter what life brings you, kick some grass over that shit and move on." ~ Someecards

The aquarium, crazy transit rides, and..................... Nelly got a make-over!

Hello Nelly Belliers!

I'm baaaaaaaack. Since it has been a while since I have put up a blog post, I have lots of random updates and stories, so please bare with the randomness that's about to occur.

Happy Valentine's Day

I hope you all had a lovely Valentine's Day! What did everyone get up to? Chris took the day off work and we went for a delicious brunch and then we headed to the brand-new Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada (pictures below). It is supposed to be one of the biggest aquariums in North America - but I'm not sure what number it would be in the line-up. I know the aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia is supposed to be the biggest in North America. If anyone knows where the Ripley's Aquarium of Canada falls, post below! Anyhoo, the best part was the glass that curved over top of us as we rode the conveyor belt for a good 20 minutes. We had sharks (including saw sharks), stingrays, and a bazillion types of fish swimming around and above us. The worst part was how busy it was, but that's expected. Overall I would definitely recommend going if you have never been before. It is fairly pricey, but since it is something you probably wouldn't be doing that often, it's worth it, and if you have kids they will love it. We had a really fun day, and I love that Chris took the day off to spend with me, and that he put thought into the day. For me, that's a million times more special than a bunch of roses.

Crack-a-Lackin

A few week-ends ago my week-end started off on a crack-a-lackin note. I was taking transit home from work and literally saw someone smoking crack at the back of the streetcar. I had to do a triple take because I was convinced that I was just seeing things due to my extreme tiredness of the work week, but nope, it was not an apparition! It was real! It wasn't long before the fella got off transit, so I didn't have time to tell the driver... but boy was it a shocker! Definitely a first in my entire life!

Here she comes Miss Canada.... Nelly got a make-over!

We decided to take Nelly to the groomers today. The harsh winter conditions took a toll on her and she also needed her buttox glands emptied (gross, but common). She got a wash and dry, her nails clipped, a trim (in all the Westie areas), and of course the dreaded glandular procedure. She honestly looks and smells like a new dog (I think she smells better than us!). Not only does she smell like a fresh garden, but Nelly could definitely enter a beauty contest now. The cutest part was that they put a sort of pink bandanna on her. I will be keeping it on as long as possible, it is tres chic!

I HIGHLY recommend taking your dog to the groomer once in a while (and definitely when your dog has glandular issues). We wash her ourselves all the time, but it's not the same. They obviously have the right facilities, the right techniques, and the right tools to get the job done right (can I say right one more time? ohhhh just did). Also, unless you want to empty those sacks yourself (yuck!) then you have to take your puppy or dog to the groomers to get it done (they could become infected so it's very important to go as soon as you notice something is wrong). You can also get your vet to empty them, but it probably ends up being more expensive and your four-legged friend doesn't get a day at the spa!

Lovin' it / Not into it

Last night we watched a marathon of "Hello Ladies". If you haven't heard of this TV show, it was created by Stephen Merchant, Lee Eisenberg, and Gene Stupnitsky and is basically about a Brit who moves to Los Angeles looking for love (or sometimes just some fun if you know what I mean). It is extremely well written and you will definitely laugh out loud when you watch it. Unfortunately it was cancelled in January of this year, but they will be doing a special ending to wrap up the series. There is a slight silver lining to this dark cloud. Frankly I am shocked that it was cancelled and highly disappointed. It was one of the few great shows out there!

Sadly, things have taken a turn with my view on Juan Pablo (the current Bachelor). The more that I watch him, the more that I feel like he is a bit of a slime-ball (kissing bandit), and with each episode I find it harder to understand what possible conversations he could be having with these girls (and how these girls are staying awake on their dates). There doesn't seem to be any depth or realness in this particular season. Yes, I know we can't expect much from a reality show, but in terms of every past season of The Bachelor or The Bachelorette, this has to be the worst in regards to seeing any type of real connection (beyond lip connection). My sister and I will still post our comments on upcoming episodes, but they may take a bit longer as Chris and I just got rid of our cable (I will watch upcoming episodes online)! Yahoooo! A great feeling. Say no to cable.

If you're looking for an online recipe resource, then I highly recommend checking out New Zealand Woman's Weekly website. They offer a wide variety of recipes, and they are constantly updating them so things never grow old. Also, you'll get some great international recipe ideas (unless you are from there of course). I get really bored with the same old Canadian websites, so I am always on the search for new little hidden gems. I used to make a lot of their recipes when I was living in New Zealand, so not only do I get to cook things from another place, but it also brings back a lot of memories for me. My flatmates in Auckland and I used to take turns cooking every night, and we would each pick a different place in the world and create a dish inspired by our chosen location. Definitely a happy time for me, and every meal was mouth watering! What recipe websites do you like to use? Post below!

Duh Duh Duh Duhhhhh [Insert Sound of Trumpets]

I will definitely be more consistent with posting blogs and getting back into my vlogging. Things have been a wee bit hectic, but thankfully things have calmed down a bit so I can get back on track. Also, I will definitely have more exciting things to talk about VERY soon! So stay tuned. Because I have been a tad slack, I have posted extra photographs on this post to make up for it.

Photographs from A to Z

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"The only creatures that are evolved enough to convey pure love are dogs and infants." ~ Johnny Depp

Where Have I Been? What Would Make Me Happy? and The Bachelor Double Episode Update

Hello Nelly Belliers!

Happy hump-day (aka Wednesday)! [sounds rude but it's not]

WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

Working... trying to catch up with University course work... the gym... trying to stay warm in this "feels like minus 30 degree weather".... and planning life stuff. 

As some of you have noticed my blogging hasn't been as regular lately, which is simply because of time (or lack of it). Also, I find it really hard to find motivation when the world around me is frozen. You get home from work, you eat, and then you just want to crawl under a blanket and stay there... forever....call it the Winter blues. I am ready for Spring, actually I was ready a few months ago!

I also wanted to put the focus on my friend's 2-year old daughter. If you haven't read those posts click here and here, and please help any way that you can. Spread the word and don't forget that If you are in Vancouver (or know someone that will be) on February 2nd, 2014 then please attend this Swab Event / Marrow Donor Registry Drive in hopes to find a donor match for Nadia. This is a life or death matter, and time is of the essence. Click here for more details.

Anyhoo... this blog is going to be long and random, so I apologize in advance. I have a few things that I need to catch up on, and random thoughts in my head, so here we go...... 

WHAT AM I LOVING RIGHT NOW? 

WINTER BLUES BE GONE!

Thanks to one of the many blogs / vlogs that I follow, I now have some new tunes to listen to. Mindy Gledhill is not only gorgeous, but she sounds like a stroll in the park on a perfect Summer's day. Her music is great to listen to if you are experiencing Winter blues like me. Her voice will make you feel happier, and you might even find yourself dancing and singing along to her songs! I highly recommend listening to "Whole Wide World" and pretty much every song that she has released. Click here to check out her awesome and super adorable website!

Tuna and apple wraps. Ever since I was a little girl my mum would always make me tuna sandwiches in a special way; she would add some granny smith apple slices on top! We are on a bit of a health kick right now, so we're trying not to eat bread, but this concept is just as delicious on a warmed-in-the-oven wrap. It may sound insignificant but I promise you it takes tuna sandwiches / wraps to a whole new level. Add some ground pepper to your tuna / mayo mix and you've got yourself a mouth watering creation.

Staying nearly naked with Revlon's Nearly Naked Pressed Powder. I am using the colour "light - 020" and it works a charm. I find that my foundation stays on a lot longer when I use this product over top of it, and I love how soft and smooth it is. It has great coverage, it is very lightweight, and there is no fallout when you apply it. The light shade is perfect for my pale Winter complexion, and I find it really compliments my other make-up products. The price point is good to (it retails for about $9.99 but I was able to get mine on sale), and you can buy it at your local drug store! Click here to find out where you can buy it. One negative is the applicator it comes with, however most applicators that come with make-up are usually cheap and cheerful. I recommend using a nice big soft brush to apply this powder.

Time with friends. For those of you who don't know I didn't get a lot of friend time when I was taking a full-time course load. This semester is part-time (hence why I'm working at the same time) and it just so happens that I get to work in the same building as one of my really good friends. I get to see her every day, and even though it feels like minus 30 degrees Celsius outside, we still make sure that we go for a lunch time walk together after we have eaten. It's been soooooooooo nice getting to hang out with her again. She is one of those people that you could see every day and you would always have a great time. I am making a conscious effort to have a bit more balance in my life, so this time together really does make a huge difference. This week-end we are heading out with some of our other friends as well, and I am definitely looking forward to a night of laughter and fun!

"In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit." ~ Albert Schweitzer

THE BACHELOR CATCH-UP
EPISODE 3 (Jan 20) & EPISODE 4 (Jan 27)

'Sisters Tell All' - The Bachelor - Episode 3

VICTORIA'S THOUGHTS (ME)

• I can't find my notes on Episode 3 - oops!

SISTA K's THOUGHTS (MY SISTER)

• Chris Harrison must be hurting for money...he sewed two shirts together to make himself a new one :) Maybe I was hallucinating, and that shirt was a side effect of my migraine ;)... (haha I totally commented on his shirt as well; time for a new wardrobe assistant!)
• Cassandra. Riding in a water car is now on my bucket list!! I like her, but I think she's too young for Juan P. First date since she was 18 - wow. 
• Kelly is still bugging me. Every single thing she says bugs me. Wonder if they're setting her up to be a villain. Every time she's on screen I see that spotty puppy costume from last week. Maybe that's what caused my headache? It was definitely visually disturbing :)
• Soccer match. The only thing I really noticed in this segment was the opera singer getting knocked down...but she got up again...I feel some tub thumping coming on! OK, I may have noticed Juan Pablo in his soccer gear. 
• Nikki the nurse. Juan P likes her vibe. He juants to get to know her better. I think she'll be around for a while.
• Andi. Hmmm, he didn't kiss Nikki but he jumped right in there with Andi. Maybe he was afraid she'd prosecute him if he didn't. (haha you are on a roll!)
• My spell check turned Sharleen into 'shark even'. Wonder if that's foreshadowing! I cannot figure her out. I want to like her, but I'm not there.
• Sean told JP never to let the other girls see him kissing someone. Oops! Andi's definitely prosecuting now!!
• Chelsie told Juan Pablo that she liked his music pretty much before the first note was over. Red flag, but I like her. The bungee jumping spot is kind of ugly. As Juan Pabs says, 'Holy moly macaroni!'. I knew she'd jump. For a minute there I thought I was psychic, but then my bubble burst and I realized that I saw the preview! Guess I can't quit my job and start a psychic line now. Goodbye fame and fortune :(
• Elise is a green eyed monster!! Or, as my son would say, 'Jelly Bro?' So mature at 27 compared to those 25 year old babies! Wonder if she'll look back one day and see the irony in her words?
• Juan Pablo is cooking in the kitchen!! He's making breakfast too :) 
• Pool party's on. Kelly is nasty! I would love to know how Sharleen ended up applying for the show. Maybe she never watched it before and thought she was auditioning for the new opera, 'El Bachelor'. Clare is crying...Renee to the rescue again! Maybe she thought she was auditioning for 'El Counsellor'.
• Time for the rose ceremony. Naked girl is gone. She didn't take her shirt off this episode. Coincidence, maybe?? I juander who the other girl is...I think my migraine affected my memory too!!

'Sisters Tell All' - The Bachelor - Episode 4

VICTORIA'S THOUGHTS (ME)

• Nikki. Still no one on one date..... yikes! She got the group rose and a smooch don't think she cares any more about no one on one.
• K pop. Guess I'm getting old.
• Kat. She doesn't come off very authentic. I actually think she has quite low self-esteem & doesn't know who she is yet. She needs time to grow up and find out who she is and what she wants out of life. She is not the juan.
• Cassandra. I like her. She seems mature and a good role model. She's a lady! [insert quote from Little Britain here "I'm a lady" - just one of those many moments where I have a random thought pop in my head]
• Clare. Doesn't know if Sharleen and Juan are right for each other? Aka jealousy. I'm not a fan! "Omg I ate octopus" - bahahaha. She always needs the focus on her, and you can see her panicking when it's not. Another one that needs to go and spend some time with herself for a while.
• 2nd Group Date. Felt soooooooooo bad for Lauren S. Clearly he just didn't want to kiss HER. Juan let me down a bit on this date. He didn't act like a man with Lauren, he acted like a chicken, and his "no kissing" rule went out the door with the snap of a Clare!
• Andi. She is growing on me.. but very slowly.
• Chelsie. Wow! Time to go! Puttin' it on thick and I'm starting to suffocate.
• Sharleen. I am liking her more and more. She keeps it real, and I like that she makes fun of him (in a nice bantery way). They have fun together and now have non "bland conversation" - aka. he's not an idiot. I think it was Sharleen that said "there's a shot we could fall in love".... I like whoever said that. Keepin' it real and not sounding psycho like some of the others. 
• "I'm in a mice" bahahahahaaaaa - my kind of humour.
• Danielle. No air time whatsoever. Is this a trick to make us think she is not in the running, but she really is?
• Alli. Again another one that I question if they are trying to trick us?
• Kelly Meow. (totes agree...see my sister's comment below)
• Renee. I still heart her, but I want to fix her mascara and eyebrows badly. Not being mean, but it looks like she has two spiders on her face. Where are The Bachelor make-up artists?
• Feet fish thing banned in Canada - hello not sanitary!
• Elise. So long. I didn't really feel one way or another about Elise. Skirt under dress and dress way too big and all over the place? Again, where are The Bachelor wardrobe stylists?

SISTA K's THOUGHTS (MY SISTER)

• Nikki. Even though the producers are mad at Nikki, JP obviously isn't. Don't think I've ever seen anyone get two group date roses in a row like that before. 
• 1st Group Date. Dance in a mall...very romantic...not!
• Sharleen. This is the first time I've seen Juan Pabs have a conversation with anyone. Good to know that he is 'not bland'. Of all the compliments she could have picked, 'not bland' was the best she could come up with! Maybe next week she'll step it up a notch and tell him he's 'not stupid'? They do have chemistry, though. Not sure if she's step-mother material. Also not sure if he fully understood what she was saying about whether she wants kids...
• 2nd Group Date. How mad must the girls peddling around in the swans be that they have to pedal around by themselves. Great way to get to know JPabs. 
• I will NEVER get a fishy foot treatment. Ewwwww. Who invented that????
• Clare is clingy. Clingy Clare.
• Kelly Meow. That's her new name. The ONLY screen time she gets is when she makes her catty comments. 
• No kissing from Juan tonight. Poor ladies. 
• Andi. Definite chemistry there. 
• Music composer girl...ouch!! She misread the moment, whether he was imposing a kissing ban or not. Awkward!!!
• JPab where is your willpower? Two minutes after banning kissing for Camilla's honour, he's playing tonsil hockey with Clare. 
• Rose ceremony time. Why oh why did he pick Miss Kitty? Bye Elise and Lauren. Elise is going home to finish sewing her dress. At least Lauren was self aware enough to realize that she shouldn't have pounced on JuanP like that. Nojuan should pounce on anyjuan like that :)

NELLY BELLIE UPDATE

Nelly Bellie is great and adjusting well to my return to work situation. In fact there's a chance that she loves it. Freedom, and no daily motherly nagging, "Nelly no... Nelly stop... " :). 

I have to say that even though I am not a big fan of office politics, it is nice having some time away from Nelly. Because of our space, our time together is more positive and fun. Just as you can spend too much time with one person, the same goes for animals (well it does for me at least). I need "me time" and I'm sure Nelly needs "naughty..I mean Nelly time". So it works out well for both of us. 

I also think that a change of scenery in life allows you to see things from a different angle. You get a new perspective and for me that perspective is that we really do have a lovely and for the most part well-behaved puppy. Nelly and I just needed some time apart, and that's ok!

WHAT'S COMING UP & WHAT WOULD MAKE ME HAPPY?

Hopefully this weekend I will be able to film my Valentine's Day giveaway contest. It will be posted on my YouTube channel, and all details will be in the description. Stay tuned for that!

I am putting together a short and sweet 'Hour in the Life' video (don't worry it will not be an hour long), it's just not a full 'Day in the Life' video. I don't have the time right now to film a full day out and about, so I thought that a snippet here and there is better than nothing? I also want to put up shorter and longer videos for those of you who don't want to hear me ramble on forever, so this is a great opportunity to post something under 10 minutes! Let me know if that sounds good?

What would make me happy? I would really appreciate it if you guys would leave me a comment or question below this post. You can tell me about your week or your day, ask me a question about Nelly, ask me a question about Canada or myself, post a thought on this blog post, tell me your favourite Bachelorette, let me know if you like my video ideas above, or anything else that is not creepy or evil. It would make this weather a bit more bearable! :)

WEDNESDAY WINTER BLUES

Sorry that these pics aren't sunny and cheerful, but unfortunately I can't change the weather. At least Nelly doesn't seem to mind the cold snap! She loves going to the cemetery and we now have to kick snow balls and ice chunks for her non-stop. She is a chasing / fetching machine!

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"You want a friend in this city? [Washington, DC.] Get a dog!" ~ Harry S. Truman

Thursday is usually all Nelly Bellie but today it's all Nadia

Hello Nelly Belliers!

Happy Thursday everyone! So I returned to work this week. I am working full-time while going to school part-time, and I am pooped. It's always hard getting back into the swing of things, but on the other hand I am loving the human interaction. When I was in school full-time I mostly interacted with Nelly, and as you can probably guess we had very one-directional conversations. An extra bonus of my work situation is that my good friend Laura is working in the same building as me! I get to see her every lunch hour! Of all the buildings in the city and I end up getting a gig in the same one as my lovely Laura! The universe definitely wants us to spend more time together!

THURSDAY UPDATE

So as some of you might know I posted a very important blog yesterday (if you haven't read it click here). My friend's 2 year old daughter is very ill, and if you are Canada I urge you to register on the Canadian Blood Services' OneMatch stem cell and marrow network registry (click here to register now). 

It takes no time at all, and before you know it you'll get some cheek swabs in the mail, with a return envelope, you send it back, and voila, you are done. A grand total of about 5 minutes (including the online registration) is all it takes to possibly save a life! 

Also, if you aren't in Canada every country has its own registry, so just do a Google search to find out how to register in your country. 

I also would like to reiterate that if you aren't in the required age bracket, there are still so many things that you can do to help. 

Here are a few ideas. These apply to anyone who is going through a similar situation:

• Spread the word on Facebook, Twitter, BlogLovin, Blogger, Pinterest, Instagram, a message board, a cork board at work, or any other way that you can reach other people;
• Encourage your friends, family, coworkers, etc, that are in the age bracket to register;
• Donate money to a registry in your country; 
• Phone, email, or visit a friend who is going through something similar and let them know that you are there for them. Ask them if there's anything you can do to help. Sometimes they just need to talk, and all you have to do is listen and give them lots of hugs;
• Offer to babysit, do chores, or run errands for your friend;
• Make your friend and their child a care package;
• Host a fundraiser, event, or drive in their honour;
• Think outside of the box!

There are so many things that you can do that truly makes a difference. So please help any way that you can. 

Nadia's case is a matter of life and death, so please take one minute to do something from list of above in her honour; every little bit counts!

I have to say that since I received Tara's answers to my questions about her daughter Nadia and what they are going through, it really has put things in perspective for me. My favourite saying (which I said during my interview for the job that I am working at) is "life is short", and then I like to add "grab life by the horns and pull" or "grab life by the balls" (the non-PG version). Life is short, that's the truth. We don't know how much time we have, so make every minute count, and when you are about to complain or think badly about some aspect of your life or day, remember what other people are going through. Most of us are extremely lucky, and at times we easily forget how lucky we are, including myself. 


This post is going to be short and sweet. My energy and my thoughts right now are focused on helping my friend and her beautiful daughter. I think sometimes putting a face to a story makes it that much more real, so here is my favourite photograph of Nadia. How can you look at her adorable face and not want to help?!

oxo NADIA oxo

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"Never underestimate the difference YOU can make in the lives of others. Step forward, reach out and help. This week reach to someone that might need a lift" ~ Pablo

Please Help Nadia & Other Children Around the World Who Are in Urgent Need of Bone Marrow

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a very serious subject and close to my heart. My friend Tara's 2 year old daughter Nadia is very sick and is in urgent need of a bone marrow transplant. This is a life or death matter, and this post is dedicated to helping Nadia and other children who need our help, and to raising awareness.

It took me five minutes to register and send off my swabs for the Canadian Blood Services' OneMatch stem cell and marrow network registry (click here to register), and there are registries in every country. If you have time to shower in the morning, or get a cup off coffee on your way to work, or if you just have time to breathe, then you have time to register; and registering can actually save a life!

I wanted this post to be less media-like and more personal. I think that if you can really get a sense of what Nadia and her parents are going through, then it will be impossible for you to not want to help.

Also, regardless of your age there are lots of ways that you can help (which Tara discusses below), but the one thing that I am asking you is to register and please share this post with as many people as you can. Let's spread the word and raise awareness around the world together!

If you are in Vancouver (or know someone that will be) on February 2nd, 2014 then please attend this Swab Event / Marrow Donor Registry Drive in hopes to find a donor match for Nadia. As I said above, this is a life or death matter, and time is of the essence.

Here are the details for the event:

• When: February 2nd, 2014
• Time: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
• Location: Unit M44 - 970 Burrard Street (Burrard & Nelson), Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 2R4 Canada

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Tara (Nadia's mother and my friend) took the time to answer the following questions, so please take the time to read everything below and help her family.

1. How did you first know something was wrong with Nadia? 

Nadia came home from day care in July 2013 with this giant purple bruise on her tummy. It was one of those ugly black purple ones that looks like it should really hurt, but it didn't hurt Nadia at all. So that was a big clue. 

Nadia had always been an easy bruiser since she was mobile, so for her to come back from daycare with a bruise, I really didn't think it was a huge deal, but I decided to make an appointment with her doctor just in case. 

The doctor sent us for blood work the next day so we went in that morning got it done and was called in by our doctor by 1pm that day with the results. It showed that all of Nadia's blood lines were low, especially her platelets counts. 

By 3pm we were in the car headed on a 4 hour car ride to BC Children's Hospital where there was a team waiting for us. The LONGEST 4 hours of my life. We were admitted to BCCH that evening and they started taking blood work and x-rays to help diagnose her. 

We were there for a week, and the Hematologists were baffled a bit. There was no sign of cancer (thank-god) and she didn't show signs of classic cases such as Fanconi Anemia. They decided to get the geneticists involved. These guys were interesting, they took a detailed family history of both sides of our family. They took more blood and sent it off for a few specialized testing. One of them being telomere testing. 

Telomeres are the end parts of your DNA, this was the key to what was wrong with Nadia. She had extremely short telomeres. As you age your telomeres get shorter, Nadia's were as short as a 90 year old, and she was diagnosed with Dyskeratosis Congenita, a disease that affects 1 in a million. Not something you really want to hear the Doctors say.

2. How long has Nadia been ill, and what have been Nadia's ongoing symptoms? Have they changed? Gotten worse? 

Nadia was diagnosed with Bone Marrow Failure in September 2013 but the doctors feel that she has been in failure since she was born.

Her ongoing symptoms are bruising. Because she is in bone marrow failure, (because of her disease), her blood lines are all low, especially her platelets. They are sitting at about a 9 (9000 depending on how your hospital counts them). A normal healthy person's platelet count is usually between 150 (150,000) and up. Because of this, if she falls, she is prone to easy bruising and possibly internal bleeding.  

She also has a low neutrophil count. This count is part of your white blood count, the important part that fights off infection and virus. So Nadia is immunocompromised. She can spike a fever super easily, even if she just catches a cold. 

Since September her blood counts have been trending down and the only way to fix this is a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT). 

The BMT will only cure her bone marrow failure not her disease. That is a whole other kettle of fish that we have a list of things that we will have to be monitoring yearly. 

I am going to be doing another blog post about Nadia's disease at a later date.


3. What has life been like for you and Thor (Tara's husband), and Nadia since you found out? 

It was tough, and is tough. 

It is extremely stressful having a VERY active toddler that has low platelets. You have to be constantly following her around and making sure that she isn't falling and causing major problems. It brings helicopter parenting to another level. 

Thor and I never wanted to be parents that freaked out over our kids falling, but her situation is unique, so we have to watch her like hawks.

Plus it has been very isolating. We can't really go out to any play groups because of her immune system and since the H1N1 outbreak, I haven't really left the house.

I have become OCD about washing my hands and our house. We make sure that we use hand sanitizer after we have come home from being out, and every time I cough or blow my nose, my hands get washed or sanitized. Something I would have never really done before.  

Anytime Nadia has a temperature, off to the hospital we go to get her bloods taken to make sure it isn't something more serious. Thankfully her tests have always come back negative.  

We have limited people coming to visit. If they haven't had a flu shot they aren't coming through the doors of my house (Please vaccinate. It is so important not just for yourself but for people and children like my daughter).

If you have a cold you have to wear a mask, and we make people use the hand sanitizer when they come in and before they pick Nadia up.

4. What would you like others to do and know that maybe other media outlets haven't asked or included? 

Just to get the word out about registering on the bone marrow registry.

Canadian Blood Services' OneMatch stem cell and marrow network registry (click here to register).

5. What information is key for others to know? 

Right now we are asking people to register in their home countries for their bone marrow registries or donate blood. 

Both are easy procedures and not as scary as you think it is, especially the bone marrow registries. For most countries it is a simple cheek swab. 

Donating blood isn't as bad or scary as people think. Honestly if I can do it ANYONE can. ANYONE!

6. What is the situation of the Canadian stem cell registry? How does it compare to the world? 

Canada is behind sadly, we were the LAST G8 country to open a public cord blood bank, this past year. Embarrassing to say the least. 

Not only is it embarrassing, but it also costs Canada roughly $42,000 for cord blood from another country for a litre (and people complain about the price of gas!).

But we are in the process of opening up banks across Canada with donation centres in Vancouver Women's Hospital, Edmonton, Brampton, and two in Ottawa. So I urge any women that is having a baby in those hospitals to donate their babies cord blood, "Push Once Give Life Twice!" A saying that I came up with when they announced the collection site in Vancouver. I am thinking of getting T-shirts made. What do you think? (Tara, I honestly think that is such an awesome idea. If anyone would like to donate towards this, or in any way please contact me so that I can get in touch with Tara.)

7. Can anyone get checked and/or be a stem cell candidate? 

You have to be between the ages of 17 - 35 in Canada (please find out your local age qualification), but you will be kept in the registry until you are 60 years old.  

The reason for the age is this. There have been over 1 million stem cell transplants since the 1970's! 1 million! WOW. They have found over the years, that they have better results with younger donors. They are not being prejudiced, this is just the way it is and they have even better results with males, because male blood hasn't been contaminated by babies living in their bellies! 

If you are a match for someone, and the best match, or in Nadia's case the ONLY match, they will call you regardless of your age and gender.

8. Is there any other way to help if you don't qualify as a candidate? What support do you guys need and what has been your biggest help to get you through all of this? 

The best way that you can help is by encouraging someone who is in that demographic to join a registry. 

As the worlds population gets more diverse, the more people we will need on the registry to match the needs of the population. 

Not only are they doing stem cell transplants for people with cancers and blood diseases, but they are also looking into treating diseases with MS.  

Science is pretty amazing.

9. How urgent is Nadia's situation? 

Very urgent. She will die without this transplant and we are so lucky that we have partial cord blood match for her.  

It is very urgent for MANY people, not just Nadia. I could list 100's of kids that are waiting for their match. It is heart breaking!

10. What resources are out there for parents who may be in your situation or going through something similar? 

There are a lot of organizations out there. Here are a few that I have found helpful for information on BMT, and a link to an outreach group specifically for Nadia's disease. 

It took me a few months to contact them as I didn't want to talk to anyone unless they had my daughter's matching marrow, but honestly once I did it was so great to reach out to other families. It made me feel like we weren't alone and everyone that I have been in contact with has had a wealth of information. 

I encourage anyone who is going through a medical condition that is serious, to do a search on the Internet and see if they can find a support group. It has helped us tremendously.

• Dyskeratosis Congenita Outreach - http://www.dcoutreach.org/Index.html
• BC Cancer Agency - http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/HPI/RecommendedLinks/treatment/transplant.htm
• Blood & Marrow Transplant Information Network - www.bmtinfonet.org

If anyone has any questions regarding this blog post please email me at mynellybellie@gmail.com

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"Act as if what you do makes a difference.  It does." ~ William James