really?!

way back throw back

2011-10-06T16:28:00.001-07:00

i'm going to do a series of posts about being and 80's girl and the things i remember from growing up. there's nothing better than nostalgia!

the first item is the maybelline kissing koolers. these were flavoured lipglosses in short, fat tubes that had a marbleized appearance. i'm pretty sure i had every one of the flavors available. peppermint, strawberry, cherry cola, grape and watermelon are the ones i remember but there could have been more delicious flavors!

i won't use maybelline products any more because they aren't cruelty free, but if the company ever decided to bring these back for us 80's girls then i'm pretty sure i'd have to buy them.

ebay has these listed from time to time and i'm so tempted to get them but i wonder how they've held up for this long. just make sure whenever you buy cosmetics you get them in sealed packages!

bunfest 2011

2011-09-19T18:41:00.000-07:00

it's the time of year again for bunfest. bunfest is an event that rabbit rescue runs as an educational expo and fundraiser. we have had tremendous success, and people from all over the world come to visit the unique event.
if you're looking for something fun to do this sunday, please come and support us! it's from 11-4 and it's at the bob rumball centre for the deaf on bayview avenue just north of lawrence avenue.

check the website below for more info:

http://bunfest.ca/carrots/

http://www.youtube.com/user/bunnylover9#p/a/u/0/nk-TubSaP0Q

censorship

2011-09-15T12:46:00.000-07:00

well, i got my hand slapped today. whenever i purchase a new bath and body works product, i log onto their website and review that product. i find customer reviews very helpful no matter what the product may be.
i reviewed one of bath and body works newest fragrances called 'charmed life' and received an email from customer service saying i had violated their discriminatory speech rule by using the term old lady-ish to describe the scent. really?!

peaches finally has his wings

2011-09-12T20:29:00.000-07:00

i feel like my posts are turning into the sad things happening to me instead of the really?! things happening to me, and this is yet another sad post.

my sweet peachy-bird chirped his last chirp today.

peaches was a special little guy who didn't know how to fly properly. the only time he'd choose to leave the cage was when he fell out the door or when i'd be bird watching my parent's budgie. when peaches would actually take flight he'd fly full speed into walls, sliding to the floor with an awful thump.
his lovely soft twittering made even the gloomiest day seem cheerful, i can't believe how silent the house is now.

as my fellow pet owners know, it doesn't matter how long you've had them or how big (tiny) they are, the leave a huge hole once they've gone.

fly freely my peachy-bird and use those now perfect wings to soar.

still haven't found what i'm looking for

2011-09-10T19:02:00.002-07:00

my heart was too heavy yesterday to write this post, sassy didn't come home with us.

in the car on my way home after our final search, one of my favourite U2 songs came on the radio, 'still haven't found what i'm looking for.' i sobbed. yes, i'm pathetic. it was finally setting in that we didn't find her even though we've truly done everything that could have been done and it's now out of our hands. there are many of us still praying that some kind person spots her and either gives her a good home or has seen our posters and will call rabbit rescue.

for those interested i took some short videos of the dog tracker trying to find sassy's trail from where he left off.

sweet sassy, wherever your journey takes you, know that we tried so very hard and that you were loved by many.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ7THe9zFvg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwvdVhzlUaw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2LHAh3f6B8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O05P3MBsx0o&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_MNoGla8dw&feature=related

still missing

2011-09-08T18:40:00.000-07:00

sweet baby sassy is still missing. it has been one of the longest weeks in my life. this little bunny doesn't even belong to me but i've become so attached to her while spending countless hours searching, knocking on doors and hanging missing posters. i've cried, spent many nights awake and almost lost faith that we'd find her alive, but there is a huge shining light at the end of the tunnel. it's truly amazing, and here's why...

we've used two rather unconventional methods in searching for sassy. the first being an animal communicator. meh? yes, a person who communicates with animals. telepathically. i will be the first to raise my hand and say i didn't know how much i believed in those types of abilities but i do believe that there are people who are more sensitive to the needs of other living beings. i see it every day with my fellow animal rescuers, there is an amazing power that connects humans to animals.
i don't know how it works nor do i really care how this person was able to communicate with sassy but being told she was still alive has been enough motivation to continue to work as hard as we have to find her.
so, do i now believe in people who can literally communicate with animals? i don't know. it's never something i've thought about before nor come in contact with. i will say the idea of being able to talk to my animals is very appealing even if it's simply to know that they are happy. but this isn't the purpose of my blog entry.

the second method we've used is a dog tracker. there are dogs specifically trained to search for lost pets. seriously. we didn't know if this would be a shot in the dark because it's rained so many times since sassy disappeared. and we found out before the search that "yukon" has never tracked a rabbit before.
i will say this time and time again, animals are amazing. yukon found and tracked sassy's scent. how did we know she was on sassy's scent and not a wild cottontail? well, pieces of sassy's blanket was hidden all over the neighborhood and yukon had no problem finding them. lots of cottontails did take off running when yukon snuffed under bushes, but sassy's trail led under a fence that backed on to private property. the search had to be temporarily put on hold.
i spent the day knocking on the doors of the people who owned the property where yukon indicated sassy's trail led. we have permission from an entire street to bring the dog back tomorrow to do searching beyond that stupid metal fence.

we are so excited to go back tomorrow with yukon and complete the search. i KNOW we will find sassy.

missing

2011-09-01T20:55:00.001-07:00

today rabbit rescue received a call from a foster parent of one of our baby bunnies saying that she had escaped from the garage and they didn't know where she was.
this baby bunny was one of the lucky bunnies we were able to save from the sudbury animal hoarder that i talked about a few weeks ago. it makes it especially heartbreaking knowing that this baby was finally in a safe and loving place and then suddenly is in danger again.

i wont go into details how the bunny escaped or the events that lead to this situation but i will ask that you pray for this sweet little girl. pray that one of the neighbors we talked to spots her and contacts us, pray that she survives the night and we have another chance tomorrow to search for her.
sassy also needs medication daily so we really need to find her!

i felt horrible driving away from the house after spending a few hours looking for her knowing that i didn't have her safely in my arms.

travel

2011-08-23T16:22:00.000-07:00

i have a growing list of places that i'd love to travel to but since traveling costs money i just keep adding to the list in hopes of winning the lottery.

the two most recent are the pyrex museum in bremerton, washington and the madonna inn in san luis obispo california.

anyone ever stay at the madonna inn? i wonder if it's as cheesy as it looks :)

http://www.madonnainn.com/

http://www.amyburnettgallery.com/

world wide web

2011-08-22T18:33:00.000-07:00

i thought i'd share some of my favourite websites just for fun!

http://www.amysedarisrocks.com/sedaris.htm

http://www.regretsy.com/

http://kitschyliving.tumblr.com/

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/

http://www.disapprovingrabbits.com/

invisible

2011-08-18T20:34:00.000-07:00

there are some days i feel completely invisible.

i hope i don't ever make anyone feel that way.

justice, maybe?

2011-08-16T18:01:00.000-07:00

Island man faces charges for cruelty

By RITA POLIAKOV, THE SUDBURY STAR

Haviva Porter is over-whelmed by rabbits.

The executive director of the Rabbit Rescue in Milton, Ont., recently received 103 rabbits from the Sudbury area, many of which had respiratory infections, parasites and, in the case of one animal, needed to have its eye removed.

These rabbits were among the 400 taken by the Ontario SPCA in May from a Manitoulin Island property.

Hendrick Reckman has been charged with 26 counts of animal cruelty after the SPCA received an animal care complaint. These charges include five counts of permitting animals to be in distress, five counts of failing to provide necessary care for general welfare and one count of failing to kill an animal humanely. If convicted, Reckman could face a $60,000, fine up to two years in jail and a lifetime ban from owning pets.

SPCA staff found the rabbits living in poor sanitary conditions, said Allison Cross, an SPCA spokesperson. More than 200 rabbits had to be euthanized by veterinarian recommendation.

The remaining rabbits were cared for and sent out to several animal care and rescue shelters throughout Ontario, Cross said, adding that some stayed in Sudbury.

Milton's Rabbit Rescue decided to help around half of the rabbits find homes.

"We took in 103. Most of them have been quite sick," said Porter, who has already adopted out some of the rabbits. Others are still suffering from respiratory infections and are recovering from surgeries like an eye removal and a mastectomy.

"It was quite intensive. (They had) every condition you can think of. Some had parasites ... the majority are still undergoing treatment for various things," she said. "A lot of them were quite scared, but the foster families have been working with them. They're turning out to be really nice bunnies."

While it took a while to socialize the animals, around 10 to 15 have already been adopted out in the area. But treatment hasn't been cheap.

"We try to prepare as well as we can, but nothing can prepare you really. It's been non-stop. We're looking at over $10,000 a month for medical care for these bunnies right now."

These rabbits are the most recent example of animal hoarding, which often leads to unsanitary conditions and sick pets.

For Cross, animal hoarding isn't new. The SPCA removed about 300 animals from a home near Peterborough earlier this year and more than 100 cats from a Toronto home in the spring.

"The concern with animal hoarding in general is the animals aren't getting the proper care. Because there's so many, it's hard to care for them," she said. "The majority of the time, we see (pet owners) genuinely care emotionally for the animals. They do want to help the animals, but unfortunately, they're unable to provide the care they need."

To Porter, rabbits make a great pet. If they're given proper care.

"I think rabbits take a certain type of person. I think there's a lot of misinformation about rabbits," she said, adding that, like a cat or dog, they need to be around people.

"Rabbits are such gentle, loving animals. They make fabulous pets if you are prepared to take on the responsibility of one," she said.

For more information or to donate to the Rabbit Rescue in Milton, visit www.rabbitrescue.ca. For a list of shelters that took in the rabbits, visit the Ontario SPCA's Facebook page. http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3259890


	MANITOULIN ISLAND MAN CHARGED WITH 26 COUNTS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY

	Sudbury, ON (August 15, 2011) – The Ontario SPCA has charged Hendrick Reckman of Billings Township, with 26 counts of animal cruelty under the Ontario SPCA Act, after over 400 rabbits were found in his care. The rabbits were removed from the Manitoulin Island area property in late May of this year. Many of the rabbits were found in poor body condition, lacking adequate basic care, living in poor sanitary conditions and requiring medical treatment. Each animal was examined by a Veterinarian and the over 200 surviving rabbits were later transferred to Ontario SPCA Communities or rabbit rescues across the province and placed up for adoption. Sadly over 200 rabbits were euthanized, by veterinarian recommendation, due to the condition they were found in. "Animal hoarding is a serious issue and is not taken lightly," Says Connie Mallory, Chief Inspector Ontario SPCA. "Regardless of how many animals you own, it is your responsibility to provide the proper care for each and every animal. The Ontario SPCA is always available as a resource if you are concerned for caring for your pets." Reckman will make his first court appearance on September 1st in the Gore Bay courthouse. The following are the list of charges under the Ontario SPCA Act. Five counts of Permitting animals to be in distress {11.2(1)} Five counts of Failure to provide care necessary for general welfare {11.1(1) )/18.1(1)(b)} Four counts of Failure to provide adequate and appropriate sanitary conditions {11.1(1)/18.1(1)(b)} Four counts of Failure to provide adequate and appropriate ventilation {11.1(1)/18.1(1)(b)} Four counts of Failure to provide adequate and appropriate pen or other enclosed structure or area, or any surfaces, structures and materials in a state of good repair {11.1(1)/18.1(1)(b)} Three counts of Failure to provide adequate and appropriate medical attention {11.1(1)/18.1(1)(b)} One count of Failure to comply that every animal that is to be killed must be killed by a method that is humane and minimized the pain and distress to the animals such that an animal's pain and distress are deemed to be minimized if it is killed by a method that produces rapid, irreversible unconsciousness and prompt subsequent death {11.1(1)/18.1(1)(b)} http://ontariospca.ca/press_releases/2011/11_aug15.html

almost new

2011-08-14T20:22:00.000-07:00

i've mentioned before that i love vintage pyrex. there is something so addicting about the beautiful colours not to mention practicality. i have a few in my collection that i won't use because they are "special" for a number of different reasons. the primary coloured bowl set from my granny and the few rare and valuable pink pieces to name a few.

every so often i'll find a dish that looks like it's in good condition at the store or antique market and then i bring it home and after closer inspection it isn't as minty as i hoped.
i've discovered 2 ways to clean pyrex that brings the life back to them. vintage pyrex is milk glass and usually has a pattern or design painted on the glass. there are some pieces that are coated in a solid colour of paint and then have a design painted on top of that. the paint should be nice and glossy, except for a few pieces that have a matte finish (terra collection). some pyrex dishes have seen many dishwasher washings leaving the surface dull. dishwashers are bad news to pyrex. there isn't anything that will restore the dish to it's original beauty but i've found one thing that helps. cooking oil. really. coat the outside of the dish in oil and let it sit for a day or two then GENTLY hand wash in mild soapy water. i wish i had taken a before and after picture of the last dish i oiled.
the second thing i learned about while reading a blog of a fellow collector, a product called bar keepers friend. it's a slightly abrasive cleaner that resembles ajax or comet and the application is identical. this should only be used on the inside of pyrex, it will remove paint! in well used pyrex and other ovenware there are often silver scratches from people using metal utensils. bar keepers friend removes those utensil marks. i also have a modest collection of cornflower blue corningware which scratches pretty easily. i can't believe how well bar keeper's friend works.

i haven't seen bar keepers friend here in ontario but whenever i do a target run i make sure i pick up a can cause it's so cheap and effective.

yay for shiny and stain free pyrex!

paint pain

2011-08-13T12:35:00.000-07:00

one of the jobs i wanted to accomplish this summer was re-painting the front door and garage door of our house. it hasn't been done since the house was built 7 years ago and it was looking a little tired. luckily mattamy keeps on record what colours the house was painted with when built as well as all the other upgrade options if warranty issues should arise, so i was able to get the paint codes to match the existing colour.

aaaannnd the adventure begins...

a few months ago we had to replace the door hardware after the deadbolt seized and we couldn't unlock the front door - luckily we have access to our house through the garage. the new hardware was a different shape than the original set and there was an obvious gap once the new set was installed. but me being the overly ambitious person that i am (lol) failed to prep the door before eagerly applying the first coat of paint. i thought no problem, i'll just wait until the first coat dries and sand the area that needed to be filled in then repaint.
if it was only that easy.
i bought semi-gloss exterior paint and when i attempted to sand the the first coat it went all gummy. i don't know how to explain it. the more i tried to fix it the worse it became.

as a perfectionist i'm really struggling with the final outcome being less than perfect. i really don't know what else to do other than strip the paint and start all over again. the thought of that gives me a rash so maybe i'll just put up with my work and carry on to the garage door.

my life is very exciting.

OAS

2011-08-10T15:42:00.000-07:00

i never really wanted my blog to be about my health issues cause well, it would be depressing. but since my latest 'really?!' moment is related to my health i feel like posting about it.

hi, i'm erin and i'm allergic to most fresh fruit and veggies and all nuts but peanuts.

it's been like this for as long as i can remember but it wasn't until i was in my early 20's that i learned there was a name for what's wrong with me. oral allergy syndrome or OAS.
when i eat fresh fruit, veggies and nuts my throat swells up, i get hives, my inner ears itch and sometimes i get wheezy. it's really a lovely picture.

now, why is it that i'm only allergic to the raw versions of fruit and veggies? it's the protein. when they are cooked the protein is broken down and makes it safe to eat. i find it very interesting.

this summer my allergies in general have been really bad, especially seasonal allergies, which is what i think has contributed to me having reactions to foods i used to be able to eat. last week for the first time i had a horrible time after eating corn on the cob, one of the few fresh foods i really enjoyed eating. i'm hoping it's a temporary thing.
then on friday after cooking and eating dinner i was covered in hives. the only thing i think it was is the tofu i used as a base for the sauce.
really, who is allergic to tofu?

as my food choices get more and more limited i find myself needing to get creative. i'm not a creative cooker, following recipes is my forte.

even though i'm feeling frustrated with the allergy situation i can't help but be amazed at how fascinating the human body is. we are truly amazing beings!

brave

2011-07-25T16:39:00.000-07:00

a fellow animal rescuer just posted an article on facebook about a homeless man who jumped in a river to save his pet rabbit.

according to news articles this homeless man lives in dublin and an 18 year old passerby grabbed the rabbit by the ears and threw him in the river near where the homeless man was sitting on the o'connell bridge.
john byrne dove into the river to save his drowning rabbit and was able to swim to a ledge where he waited to be rescued himself.

john was awarded a "compassionate citizen" award by a local animal rescue and was also offered a job on a farm working with animals because of his obvious deep connection to them. john also has a dog who keeps him company.

the young person who did this awful thing has been charged with cruelty to animals.

wow.

after my brief moment of awe i immediately thought of my animals and what i would have done if i was in the same situation as john. i can't imagine the desperation he must have felt.
may God bless this man for caring so deeply for His little creatures <3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRU_lEqus5o

sudbury bunny rescue

2011-07-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tnj4JZdnfFE&sns=fb

saddle woes

2011-07-08T12:48:00.000-07:00

i took the new/old bike out for a very quick ride once i got it back from the shop to see how comfortable it was. comfortable it was NOT. mostly due to the original seat which was totally metal underneath a thin layer of vinyl with no padding. i couldn't even make it around the block before i was riding with my tush an inch off the seat.

so began my journey to find a new saddle that would make my bum a happy bum. the bike place where we've taken our bikes to be tuned up didn't have any that i cared for. they all looked very comfortable, but seemed road bike appropriate not vintage bike appropriate. i'd like this bike to be functional but pretty too, since it's more for leisurely rides to the store than long distance hauls.

i ended up going to canadian tire just to see if they had something visually appealing even though i know they don't sell the most technical bike equipment. i was surprised, they had one saddle that looked like it would fit with the whole retro look but it was "noseless", meaning no pointy part that goes between your legs.

the new saddle was easy to attach and came with it's own seat post clamps already fixed to the seat, i just had to stick it on the post and tighten the bolts.
then it was time for a test ride...

oh my word, i wish i had someone video taping me trying to get myself comfortable on this noseless seat. it was hilarious. because of the different style i was perched on the seat instead of sitting. i don't know if that makes any sense but that's how i felt. i was surprised at how different the new seat felt vs. the traditional saddles.
another thing i noticed right away was that the new seat raised me at least 1.5 inches higher than the original seat which was opposite of what i was trying to accomplish. *sigh* it made me have to use my tippy-toes to peddle the bike.

it's too bad, i kind of like the look of the noseless saddle but i feel even more vulnerable to falling off with the added height. i guess i need to keep looking for a more appropriate place to put my bum.

(i also need to figure out how to attach and align more than one photos so i can show more pics!)

round

2011-06-30T19:33:00.000-07:00

i got hit in the head tonight by a beach ball. it nailed the side of my head and hit my ear which created a perfect seal and made my eardrum pop.
yup, a beach ball popped my eardrum.

the bicycle stories

2011-06-25T17:13:00.000-07:00

i got my bicycle back from the shop, sans white wall tires, they couldn't find ones to fit the rims. sir, i am disappoint.
aaannnd, i'm an idiot. i should have tried to get myself on the bike before sending it for new tires. it's too big. i just assumed because my sister could ride it i could as well, i guess she's just that much taller than me.

i'm not fluent in bicycle so i don't think there is much to be done to make it fit me better, especially since the seat is as low as it goes. i read on the wonderful world of the internet that there is something called low-profile saddles which may save me a centimeter or so but changing the seat will take away from the overall vintage look since the bike came with the original seat.

i hate when stuff like this happens. i was so excited about finally getting an old bike.

anyone have any ideas?

good fences DON'T make good neighbors

2011-06-20T16:19:00.000-07:00

i have less that S-M-R-T neighbors behind us and beside us. we've put up with a lot.

here's my latest example:
i'm sitting our family room watching some tv and i see two of our neighbors kids come running though our backyard. i realize i may sound pretty petty for getting annoyed over this one little thing but it happened a minute later, then a third time. so i tell them i'd prefer if they didn't play in my backyard (they have their own and a park right next door). another minute goes by and they do it again! then, i see them running around my car and our neighbors car parked in our respective driveways.
now, the driveways in new milton are extremely close together and there isn't much distance from the end of the car and the beginning of the road. it's very hard to see kids darting in and out between cars when you are driving down the street. i've had to brake really hard a few times for kids chasing lost balls.
at this point i'm irked. so i stick my head out the front door to see the parents of these blessings sitting on their front porch.
really?!
as kindly as i could i inform them that their kids are playing in my yard and i'm worried that they could get hurt (both girls are under 6). the parents just continue to sit on the porch without saying anything. unreal. after repeating myself again, mom finally got up and said something to the kids.

yup. active parenting is wonderful.

rescue me

2011-06-18T20:23:00.000-07:00

i realize most of my blog seems to be about animals and not much about the insane things that happen to me on a daily basis. hmmm. and today i have another animal post:

rabbit rescue, inc. is currently working with the SPCA on a huge animal abuse case. ONE person has been hoarding 400 domestic rabbits. 400! most of these bunnies are sick or injured due to the deplorable conditions they lived in and all are terrified because of the trauma they've experienced.

rabbit rescue is not a stranger to assisting in abuse cases. in 2008 over 400 rabbits from a meat farm were 'surrendered' to the barrie SPCA as a part of a cruelty investigation. i use 'surrendered' only as a legal term keeping rabbit rescue from any repercussions for actually using the word seized.
i can't even begin to tell of the horror. *shudder*

this is my plea, if anyone is able to help in any way, it is desperately needed. we need help with fosters so these sweet buns have a safe place to stay, supplies, and of course donations to cover vet visits and spaying/neutering. please let me know if you can help, or if you wish to remain anonymous email haviva@rabbitrescue.ca or visit rabbit rescue's website.

it was amazing how so many people from all over the world joined together to help the barrie bunnies. it warms my heart knowing that there are so many wonderful people that care even for the smallest of God's creatures.

that is all my friends. have a wonderful night!

totally 80's

2011-06-16T14:23:00.000-07:00

i've been on hiatus because of some pet related emergencies as well as stuff that's been changing drastically with my family - all is well, just things are busy but i'm hopefully back to posting.

i acquired a vintage bicycle from a friend of my granny's who originally gave the bike to my little sister, but after a blown front tire she decided she didn't want the bike any more. to be totally fair, my sister is in university so the expense of putting on a new tire and tube didn't seem very attractive when that money could go towards food :)
so i was thrilled when it ended up in my garage cause i've wanted a vintage bike for a while but couldn't decide what i wanted.
it's a navy blue canadian tire supercycle from the late 70's early 80's. not really a collectors item, but it makes me less afraid to ride it. the bike needs to be cleaned up and of course some new tires, so off it went to the shop to be fitted with some sexy white walled balloon tires. i think it also needs a basket which sent me on a google image search trying to decide what kind of basket would look best. one option was the very popular white plastic faux wicker basket with large fake daisies adorning the front, the very same basket i had as kid on my bike in the 80's.
seeing this basket reminded me of all the funny things in my childhood that have resurfaced and become fashionable (some that is!). jelly shoes, skip-it, neon nail polish, denim skirts, coloured mascara, ray-bans...

so i'm looking forward to riding my new bike once it's ready to go. i'll post a before and after pic once the transformation is complete.

yummy

2011-05-25T13:24:00.000-07:00

when bath & body works came to canada i was thrilled. i love their products but because they weren't easily accessible to me i was missing out on so much wonderfulness. there is something special about using fancy soaps that makes everyday chores so much more enjoyable.

recently bath & body works released a line of body care scents that i've fallen in love with that were originally called the summer vanillas but were later reintroduced as the signature vanillas. confusing. there are 5 different flavours; coconut vanilla, berry vanilla, lemon vanilla, apricot vanilla and cherry vanilla. all of them are yummy.
i've just found out that at the end of june this line will be discontinued. i'm bummed. i know it's silly to get sad over the loss of something so superficial but they are just so nice!

so, if you are looking for some nice light smelly stuff i say quickly check out this stuff at bath & body works.

make mine chocolate

2011-04-07T13:14:00.000-07:00

rabbits are a familiar symbol of the easter season. in the days leading up to it, they appear on television commercials and packages of candy, and stores are filled with stuffed rabbits. it is no surprise that children beg their parents for a bunny of their own. ill-prepared to care for these unique creatures, their owners often quickly tire of them. in the months following easter, local humane societies and rabbit rescues are flooded with rabbits, former easter gifts whose owners no longer want them. the unlucky ones are dumped outside where predators, cars, illness, and injury virtually guarantee an early death.

thus began the make mine chocolate campaign. the house rabbit society (a wonderful organization promoting the proper care of house rabbits) began the campaign to educate the public on the realities of living with a rabbit, and to discourage giving live rabbits as easter gifts. using ceramic pins in the form of chocolate bunnies as a symbol, the campaign's goal is to spread the message that rabbits should not be casually acquired and to educate the public about the special needs of these often-fragile creatures. the pins are supposed to serve as conversation starters. comments about the pin provide the wearer the opportunity to share our message with the general public.

i know there are awareness ribbons, pins, bracelets, etc. for every possible cause out there so i understand the hesitation for people feeling the need to adorn another one. i don't wear my rabbit pin because i'm not a pin wearer. i purchased the pins to help financially support house rabbit society because i believe in what they do. i've never had a conversation about the meaning of the pin because it's not stuck to my chest, but those of you who know me well have certainly been a victim to my constant blabbering about rabbits.

so, if you have a child or know of someone else considering getting a rabbit as a pet please encourage them to research in depth how much care these fluff balls need, they are a 10+ year commitment. or buy a chocolate one instead.

we won!

2011-03-22T08:40:00.000-07:00

rabbit rescue inc. was a participant in a challenge based on votes, the 5 top charities would win $10,000. at the closing of the challenge we were in 3rd place which was a huge accomplishment for a relatively small charity. we waited over a week to find out what the official results were, all the individual votes needed to be confirmed to make sure there wasn't any cheating.
today we found out that our final position is actually 2nd place! totally amazing. my heart is bursting with joy knowing that the money we've received will help so many animals.

thank you! thank you! thank you! to all my friends and family that voted every day for us. we couldn't have done it without you.

lost

2011-03-11T15:06:00.000-08:00

here's my really?! moment of the day:

i had some returns and shopping to do this morning. after i had done a return at one store and picked up what i needed there i went to cash out. i couldn't find my wallet. i didn't need my wallet for the return because it was one of those stores that automatically refunds your money to a credit card, or else i would have realized sooner that it had disappeared. i put the stuff i wanted to buy down, tried to retrace my steps and checked with customer service to see if a kind person had turned it in. no luck.
i so didn't need this right now especially with family stuff being a little hectic. then i started to realize what was actually in my wallet, yes there was cash and credit cards but it was the numerous gift cards i received for christmas that couldn't be replaced. sort of silly to get upset over but i willingly admit i was. it also dawned on me that my actual wallet was one i loved, the same style that succumbed to an early death after a lip gloss exploded in my purse. the wallet wasn't all that valuable but it took me forever to find another one when the dead one needed to be replaced.
i left the store very frustrated with myself and began praying that a cop wouldn't pull me over on the way home since i didn't have my licence any more. it's just one of those things that would happen to me.

i get to my car and sure enough that annoying little blue wallet was sitting on the driver's seat silently laughing at me.
uuhhhg, really?! yes. i didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so i laughed. i feel the need to staple my wallet to my side so something like this doesn't happen again.

the bunny shooter

2011-03-10T13:55:00.000-08:00

okay i know the title is a little unnerving but this is a happy post and NOT about someone shooting bunnies. i'll explain the title later...

a few posts ago i talked about how i was related to some very talented people, this is also an entry about someone talented but i'm not related to her. her name is jessica lam and she is an outstanding photographer. her specialty? rabbits. jessica calls her business studio lapin - witty eh?
jess is part of the wonderful network of people who make up rabbit rescue inc and she takes pictures of most of the animals up for adoption through the rescue.
jessica has an amazing ability to capture a rabbit's personality perfectly. yes, rabbits have personalities, hilarious ones in fact.

please visit jessica's website and see her work. if you ever need a photographer, consider giving jessica a shout!

oh, as for the title jessica often posts on her facebook page that she's off to shoot some rabbits. haaaa!

urban spelunking

2011-03-09T17:22:00.000-08:00

urban spelunking, or more commonly called urban exploration, is something i've always wanted to do. for those who don't know what urban spelunking is, it's exploring places usually unseen or off limits to the general public. i don't really know why i find it so interesting, i know i'm nosy so perhaps that's it.
i've never actually embarked on one of these adventures because i know i'll get caught or fall through rotten floor boards and get stuck. i'm that unlucky. for now i live vicariously through the people brave enough to do the exploring for me. there are so many facinating websites that describe people's visits to all sorts of different places and flickr also has some super cool photographs to scan through.
it's the abandoned buildings and houses that intrigue me, as i've said before i find the history of things facinating. so maybe one of these days when my luck changes i'll be able to visit some of these places for myself.

mod cloth

2011-03-05T20:40:00.000-08:00

i have a minor fascination with clothes and shoes. i've never really had a job that's required me to have a professional wardrobe, but in the past it didn't stop me from buying more clothes than i needed. it's something i now feel guilty about because materialistic things have become less important to me, but that doesn't mean i don't still like a nice pair of shoes! i know i come by my fascination with clothes and shoes honestly since my dad works in fashion. it wasn't until he started working for lacoste that he contributed significantly to my already rather large footwear collection. thanks dad :).

i'm not usually a fan of shopping for clothes online because i feel more confident trying things on before i buy them, but mod cloth is a completely different story. i adore their stuff, especially the dresses. some of them i know i couldn't pull off but i still think they are wonderful.

anyway, that's my musing for the day. check mod cloth out!

vintage pyrex

2011-03-04T11:28:00.000-08:00

it was four years ago that i laid my eyes on my first piece of vintage pyrex. the beautiful milk glass casserole dish was painted pink and had a white daisy motif adorning the front and back of dish. pink and daisies? it couldn't be any more erin-ese. i knew this was the beginning of a horrible addiction, something i now call pyrexia.

i began looking into the history of pyrex and was amazed to find a whole network of other collectors who appeared to have a bigger addiction than i. i felt relieved.

just like antiques, vintage pyrex varies in it's value. rare and promotional items are usually more expensive and mint condition pieces are much more desired. for me, the value is in the history. my favourite is a set of four mixing bowls which are primary coloured that once belonged to my granny. when she learned of my new found appreciation for pyrex she gladly handed over her set that she received as a wedding gift. the bowls are less vibrant than when they were new and they've acquired some obvious wear and tear, but to me they are just as beautiful as pristine set because they belonged to someone i love.

this past summer i found the holy grail of pyrex, or at least my holy grail, a four piece set of mixing bowls similar to my granny's bowls but in solid pink. i'm pretty sure i loudly shouted "shut up!" when i saw them, i couldn't believe it. i was hesitant to ask the antique dealer how much she wanted for them because i know many owners of these delicious bowls have paid some serious change for these beauties. as much as i love pyrex i'm not willing to go into debt building a collection. to my amazement she was asking a very reasonable price and i was able to talk her down a bunch more. i walked out of there a proud new owner of four pink bowls which made a very happy erin.

since then i've decided to focus on collecting select pieces that i really, really want. after perusing pictures of pyrex collectors, i've noticed how easily it is to get out of control and i don't see the need for that. how can one honestly appreciate all that glass if you have more than you can count? i own a very modest amount of pyrex and am looking forward to swapping with my fellow pyrexians in order to find ones i'll personally value more.

for more vintage pyrex info check out this website!
http://www.pyrexlove.com/

talent

2011-03-03T11:20:00.000-08:00

i'm related to some exceptionally talented people, and one of these people is my cousin lindsay. she's an accomplished graphic designer who has her own business and has worked with a pretty impressive list of clients.

lindsay's most recent creation is a blog called inklings paperie. one thing she and i share is the love of paper. a beautiful piece of paper has the ability to inspire one to create many different things, and if you check out her blog you'll see a variety of her amazing creations with paper goods.

http://inklingspaperie.blogspot.com/

not only is lindsay a great designer, she is an incredible pianist and singer. if you've ever had the privilege of hearing her perform you'll agree she's been blessed with a very special gift.

love ya linds!

cruelty free

2011-03-02T12:10:00.000-08:00

one the things i'm extremely passionate about is the whole animal testing thing. i know i often stand on a soapbox and get overly animated when i start talking on the subject, so i apologize if any of you have been a victim to one of my speeches. chances are it won't be the last time either!

five years ago when i started working with rabbit rescue, inc my eyes were opened to the world of animal advocacy. one thing that really tugged at my heart was what humans do to animals in order to make our lives easier. i knew i needed to make changes in my life in order to reflect my status as an animal advocate and that it probably wouldn't be easy.
i began researching animal testing, but what i also stumbled on was the amount of horrible chemicals that are in the products i used daily. so not only did i want to become more ethical but also make healthier and safer choices when i choose the things i buy.

these are just some of the things i discovered during my research:
- the majority of the tests performed on animals aren't required by law and they often produce inaccurate and misleading results.
- even if a product harms animals it can still be marketed to us.
- there are alternatives to animal testing that are cheaper and provide faster, more accurate results so why are we needlessly inflicting pain on animals.
- buying cruelty free/safer products isn't more expensive than buying the more well known brands such as mr. clean, tide, cascade, etc. in fact using simpler ingredients like vinegar, lemon and baking soda is very economical.
- most supermarkets and drug stores sell a huge selection of safer alternatives, it's just a matter of learning what to choose.

now, i also learned that just because a company claims to not test on animals it doesn't necessarily mean it's true. there are two major overseers that put their logos on products whose companies have made the pledge and guarantee that their products are cruelty free. one is PETA (let the jokes begin) and the second is the coalition for consumer information on cosmetics (CCIC).

http://www.leapingbunny.org

http://www.caringconsumer.com

another wonderful resource is the campaign for safe cosmetics. this site is more directed towards the ingredients in cosmetics and not the ethical side of things. they have really good info on cosmetic laws.

http://www.safecosmetics.org

so, please think twice about the companies you support not only for your health but for the well being of all God's creatures.

been awhile

2011-02-22T20:02:00.000-08:00

so i've been terribly lazy at keeping this updated. phhht. i have no excuse.

came across this wonderful video today of a momma bunny and her babies. it is evident that the momma is quite sick, i'm guessing myamoxtosis. but what makes my heart happy is how well she cares for her kits even though she must be in pain. animals are amazing - you'll never hear me say that enough.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYj6Y-WzCfc&feature=player_embedded

judgmental

2010-10-03T18:08:00.000-07:00

i've been surrounded by judgmental people all my life. everyone has i guess. it's so easy to judge others without realizing you are doing it, i know i do it more often than i like. i try to admit willingly that i am judgmental cause the more i admit it maybe the less i will do it.

i find if you learn the background or reasoning behind why someone is doing something it may be easier to understand why that person did it. example; my first visible piercing was my lip which i got a good 8? years ago. i was amazed at how many people quickly determined who i was based on a small thing attached to my face. no one ever asked why i got it done, and i wish they had. i think it would have been a great learning tool.
people who knew me for a long time made negative comments about it, something that shocked me more than i admitted at the time. it made me wonder what others really thought of me as a person and not how i appeared physically.

the reason for this post is just that i experienced tonight yet again how easily people assume things about others.

i am going to try harder to be less critical of how other people are and when i feel myself leaning toward a negative thought, to take a second to understand where that person is coming from.

love more, judge less.

just my luck

2010-09-05T21:38:00.000-07:00

so here is my really?! moment of the day.
i was headed out to a friend's house this afternoon and stopped to get a coffee before i got on the highway.
i went to pay for my drink and discovered that my lip gloss had exploded in my purse. i was at the cash and totally said out loud to myself, "really?"

i'm so irked. it's never happened to me before i can't figure out what caused the tube to burst. my bag wasn't in the heat or being squished. it's just one of those erin things i'll never understand.

good people

2010-09-05T21:02:00.000-07:00

today we buried stevie, a sweet rabbit that had been rescued from living under a car who had a horrible injury to his front paw. a few moments after the surgery to amputate his hurt paw he passed away.
stevie was supposed to come home to me later that day once the vet said he was able to go, but i was never able to give his adorable little head a kiss and tell him it was gonna be okay.

i'm very sad that things like this happen to innocent animals who don't deserve to be left to live in such conditions. it's hard not to get overwhelmed with anger at the lack of compassion our world has for these animals, just look at any publicized case of animal cruelty and most people will tell you justice hasn't been served.

but then there are a few of those good people who come along, who mourn the loss of a rabbit who they never got to meet, and share the grief with you. to some it seems like an insignificant event but when you sweat blood and tears to rescue these animals that deserve a second chance, this one small loss is significant. it isn't grieving over one individual creature (for me anyway) it's a collective feeling of sadness about all the animals that we haven't been able to save.

so to michelle and norm, tara and kim, thank you for being really really good people. for understanding on a deeper level how much these animals lives mean, and for taking the time to care. i am blessed to know you.

looking forward to

2010-08-30T14:32:00.000-07:00

there are a few things i'm looking forward to that are coming up in the next little bit. the first being the winter collection from bath and body works. i'm a sucker for seasonal and limited edition collections, not just from bath and body works but from a variety of companies. the second thing being the winter/christmas line from china glaze nail polish. yes, i'm a nail polish nerd.

i'm sure there will be more things i discover in the next few months that i will drool over...

over the rainbow

2010-08-08T12:44:00.000-07:00

another sweet bunny crossed the bridge today, her name was wachiwi.

amazing people are few and far between, but wachiwi's human slave lisa is one of the most amazing women i've had the privilege of getting to know over the last few months. lisa fosters and even adopts some of the most medically fragile animals that come through rabbit rescue, inc. and wachiwi was one of those bunnies. wachiwi suffered from the effects of an infection called e.cuniculi which sadly many bunnies live with but often go untreated. it is a horrible disease that attacks the neurological system and organs causing a variety of symptoms including head tilt, paralysis of the hind and/or front legs, incontinence and seizures.
even though wachiwi lost the use of her hind legs, lisa welcomed this big beautiful bunny into her home and gave her a second chance at a wonderful life.

the last couple of weeks it was becoming evident that wachiwi was getting weaker and started to have seizures. lisa did a wonderful job of making wachi comfortable and did everything humanly possible to help her. but this morning wachi crossed the bridge to that beautiful place where clover fields are endless and her hind legs would allow her to binky again. wachi was extremely lucky to know the love of a kindhearted human, and i am thankful that this special bunny had the most wonderful few months with lisa caring for her.

binky freely wachiwi...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9qDvS6lq0c&feature=channel

happy news

2010-07-22T07:45:00.000-07:00

my good friend trish is getting married! she got engaged the long weekend in may but i haven't had the chance to meet her husband-to-be paul.

paul and trish came over last night for dinner, it was really nice to meet paul.

i'm so happy for trish (and paul too!) good people deserve happy things in their life and trish certainly deserves to be happy.

rabbit rescue, inc.

2010-07-05T20:44:00.000-07:00

when chris and i lived in toronto i volunteered at the toronto humane society. it was a wonderful, emotional and sometimes frustrating experience. when we moved from toronto i couldn't continue my time at the humane society because of the distance and i knew it was going to be a major part of my life that i would miss.
as soon as we settled in our new house i began looking for another animal related organization i could dedicate some of my time to. the closest animal shelter in oakville didn't have the need for more volunteers (really?!) which left me somewhat discouraged, but after a random google search i came across rabbit rescue, inc. located right here in our small town. i immediately contacted them and asked "how can i help?"
after meeting haviva lush the executive director of the rescue i knew i had to get behind this rescue as fast as i could.

what is very unique and special about this rescue is that every animal it saves is placed immediately into a foster home, they aren't kept in a shelter which often stresses animals out. in foster homes the animals are taught to love again, animals that haven't previously been socialized are handled daily in order to be better companions for future adoption. these foster animals truly become part of the family. rabbit rescue, inc. rescues mostly bunnies - obviously, but also takes in degus, chinchillas, hamsters, mice, rats, sugar gliders and all those other small animals that often get forgotten. that doesn't mean when a cat or dog needs help the door gets shut! we are a part of a network of amazing people simply called animal rescuers. and if an animal is in need, any type of animal, these amazing people will group together and use whatever resources we have to get that animal help.

when i first started to volunteer for rabbit rescue, inc. i just fostered animals and helped out with transports. transports involve bringing the animals we've rescued to various places like the vet, to their foster home or even meeting up with their new adoptive family. rabbit rescue's volunteers live all over ontario so it is often that an animal needs to get from say hamilton to kingston so there may be 4 different volunteers that help with that transport to get the animal where it needs to be!
but last summer i took on a new and more involved role within the rescue, i run the on-line store. our on-line store generates a huge amount of funding that helps us save all the animals that we have been able to. the on-line store is run out of my house, everything is stored in my basement, i process and mail each order that we receive. chris is the most supportive husband allowing all of this extra stuff in our house in order to help. as i often semi-jokingly say "love me, love my bunny" which i guess incorporates all the stuff that goes with it!
the store sells lots of great stuff for your small pets, and humans too. it is constantly undergoing changes as i get more familiar with how things run, but i am trying my hardest to do good by an organization that deserves every bit of help they can get.

so i will be mentioning rabbit rescue, inc. frequently as it has become such a major part of my life. please visit their website to learn more about what we do!

www.rabbitrescue.ca

the ground is moving

2010-06-23T18:42:00.000-07:00

today we had an earthquake. in ontario. really?! it was at 1:41pm and i was lying down in bed cause my head has been hurting bad the past few days and the bed started moving. i thought i was experiencing hallucinations or something.
it was a 5.0 magnitude (originally 5.5 but downgraded) and the epicentre was 85 km north of ottawa near buckingham, quebec.

i bet all the people in places that get earthquakes on a regular basis are making fun of us canadians for being so dramatic over this little event we experienced today. come on now, my igloo almost fell over!

over the rainbow

2010-06-19T17:00:00.000-07:00

another precious little bunny went over the rainbow bridge today. her name was ella. she was loved by 2 of the most generous people i know who also volunteer for rabbit rescue (more on that another time) norm and michelle.

binky free sweet, sweet ella.

*photo was taken and used with permission by jessica lam (www.studiolapin.ca)

a purpose

2010-06-19T16:35:00.000-07:00

i've been thinking about whether or not to start a blog for a bit now. it seems some think that people are too public about their lives, but as my friends and family spread farther and farther apart i'd like a place to share the things going on in my life.
i was reading that it isn't good to talk about too many different subjects on a blog because it might turn your target audience away. well, i'm not here to make any money - maybe just amuse the few of you that might read this - of the daily 'erin moments' that keep my life interesting.
as for the title of the blog, are you ever somewhere and think to yourself 'really?!, did that just happen?' if not, you'll understand soon after a few of my posts.
so, until later...