Blast from the Past

Today I bumped into one of my old friends, Theo from my Insurance days. Wow, it feels like a lifetime ago! It's amazing how much can happen in 5 years. In that career I was really unfulfilled and didn't enjoy my work. However, I loved my coworkers and the branch manager who were such a pleasure to work with. That was probably part of the reason I was there as long as I was. Isn't it funny how looking back on certain periods in life can feel like a totally separate lifetime?

Theo is still with the same company but has been promoted several times and is in a good place in his career. When we met he was starting out. It's so exciting to see people I knew 5 years ago and how they have progressed in life. It's also thrilling for me to see how much my life has been totally changed in 5 years:

With Candace Bushnell, Author of Sex & the City

* I now have my degree (Radio & Television Arts from Ryerson University) - not having my degree was a chip on my shoulder for a long time. I'm so happy to have accomplished this.

With a ChickAdvisor member at an event

* Instead of being in an unfulfilling job scraping by with bad pay I'm my own boss and I LOVE what I do. Just today I interviewed the founder of H20+. What an amazing woman. It was an inspiration to meet her and she loaded me with products to try. Then I swung by the Intercontinental hotel to pick up my media passes for Fashion Week. Yup, this is my life now. When I think about all of the experiences I get to have in this new role it's mind blowing. I'd probably hate me if I wasn't me. ;)

Two geeks on vacation. Our first non-family trip since we launched the company.

* I have an amazing husband who is also my business partner. I dated my share of beasts before I met my Prince, Alex and he's the most supportive man I've ever met. Not only did he convince me to quit Insurance and go back to school, we launched the company together and he has been 100% behind my many wacky ideas for the business. He's also a really good cook and romantic too. I'd continue but I don't want ya'll to hate ;)

* I own a beautiful little condo in a great location. It's so nice to know that our monthly payments are making it more ours every day instead of going into a bottomless pit of rent. There is huge satisfaction in that.

At our Sex and the City event

* I'm surrounded by amazing people. In the last 5 years I've made some new friends who are absolutely incredible human beings. One of my sisters, Claire (wacky blonde in photo) works with me and has done an amazing job. Another sister and her husband also moved to Ontario so I have family here now. That means a lot. I also have wonderful In-laws who love to cook. Hello!

Interviewing designers Dean&Dan for ChickChat TV

There were times in my past when situations were so bad I couldn't imagine a way out of it. It just goes to show that if you keep trying and keep you head up, you can come through anything and dramatically change your life. Faith is a big part of that. Don't ever stop believing!

I can't wait to see how the next 5 years will pan out.