2012 had its challenges. Financially, it has been a dreadful year. However, with every experience, whether positive or negative, there is a lesson. A lesson that SCREAMS listen to me and learn from it.
Despite all of the negative things that have taken place, there are so many thing to be gracious about. Without a doubt in 2012 we have had a lot to be grateful for. Here are just a few moments in my life that shaped me in 2012.
North American International Auto Show
Thanks to my blog, Ford Canada invited me to attend the North American International Auto in Detroit last January. I learned so much about Ford’s innovations, met new friends, and had a great time!
The Henry Ford Museum was the highlight of the trip. I loved the presidential vehicles on display.
My First Speaking Gig at the Conestoga College
I have always known that my greatest attributes is that of a teacher and trusted source for information. I never write or say anything that I can’t prove to be true.
I was selected to speak about social media to a group of young entrepreneurs at the Conestoga College in February 2012.
I was nervous, but I’m sure as time passes, my speaking abilities will flourish.
OMG! I saw Oprah Live!
April 2012 was a gift. I was able to see Oprah Winfrey live in Toronto. I can’t say enough about this experience and how blessed I was to see her up close and personal.
She has always been my mentor and to see her live was simply something that I never imagined.
There are OWN Ambassadors and I feel that even though I’m not tweeting about her day after day, I’m part of that special group of individuals who believes that Oprah has made such an impact in our lives.
Interview with Ian Astbury
Not many teenage girls can say that they had the opportunity to interview a legend. Christina and I were invited to do an interview with Ian Astbury of The Cult in April 2012.
This was an amazing interview where I was memorized by Ian’s demeanor and spiritual viewpoints of life and music.
He was quite taken aback about our mother and daughter format and was impressed with both of our questions and ability to interact with him.
We both discovered our love of interviewing this session and would gladly do more when the opportunity arises.
Go Further with Ford
2012 was Ford year for Life’s a Blog. I was invited to return back to Detroit to attend the Go Further With Ford event. There was a lot of information sessions and the vast amount of information provided about Ford’s innovations was astounding.
Despite the fact that Ford has moved on to other bloggers in 2013, I’m certain that my next vehicle will be a Ford. Ford has taken extreme measures to ensure safety and green technologies in their new vehicles. The most impressive part of Ford’s innovations for me is that they also embrace people and invite them to experience and provide opinions on their innovations.
One Night in Toronto with Perez Hilton
This was another amazing experience. June was a very busy month. I was selected as media and attended the One Night in Toronto MMVA after party hosted by Perez Hilton. Perez keeps me believing that my blog will one day take me to new heights. He is a blogging icon who has made his living off providing celebrity gossip to international gossip mongers.
Christina Meets LMFAO at the MMVA’s
Christina and her friend had an amazing time at the 2012 Much Music Video Awards. They met so many celebrities and met new friends.
I love attending these events because there’s a level of excitement that I never had the opportunity to experience as a teen. Keeping it real and innocent.
Family Events and Christina Falls in Love
It’s been a great year for my family. We’ve kept busy with our two teens and Christina fell in love!
She’s got a very nice boyfriend and they spend a lot of quality time together. It’s nice to see that after years of struggling and arguing that Christina has turned into a daughter that anyone could be proud of.
She’s worked hard at school and now qualifies for college. I always knew that despite her learning disabilities that she could do it!
Christina also obtained her G2 recently and we are so proud (and a little scared). Thanks Young Drivers of Canada! Now we have another 16 year old to put through driver’s ed.
Boots and Hearts
What initially was a media opportunity I begrudgingly agreed to attend ended up being the best time I have ever had in my life! The Boots and Hearts Country Music Festival in Bowmanville, Ontario transitioned me into a country lovin mama! It poured. I don’t mean rain, I mean torrential downpours where your clothes were soggy all weekend.
I partied with new friends. I saw Alabama, Sheryl Crow, Tim McGraw, and Carrie Underwood. I fell in love with Lionel Richie and I interviewed Paul Brandt. This was event I will never miss again. Best Country Music Festival EVER!
A Blue Jays Game to Celebrate the Blackberry 4G Playbook Launch
My sister in law and I attended the Blackberry 4G Playbook Launch in August 2012. This was my sister-in-law’s first baseball game and she absolutely loved it.
Anyone who knows me realizes that I’m a huge proponent of Blackberry and I’m cheering in the background as they gain momentum with their 4G Playbook and their new Blackberry 10 (set to release January 2013)
Blackberry was also kind enough to provide me with tickets to TIFF 2012. I am blessed have Blackberry in my life.
2012 Toronto International Film Festival
This will be my last year attending the Toronto Film Festival as an attendee. I want to attend the festival on a much higher level but I’m dubious whether this dream will ever come to fruition.
We had such a great time this year as we took in movies and met several celebrities. Christina even had the opportunity to tell Hugh Grant that he was much better looking in person.
Canada’s Walk of Fame
This was an amazing event despite not being tressed in ball gowns like most of the attendees. This event truly made me proud to be a Canadian!
Paul Shaffer hosted the event while honouring inductees Sarah McLachlan, Phil Hartman, Randy Bachman, Russ Jackson, and Sonia Rodriguez.
I have to thank Molson Canada for making this experience a great date night for my husband and I.
We Day 2012
I was provided the media opportunity to attend the Toronto and Kitchener We Day conference. This was yet another highlight for Christina and I.
We met Spencer West, Jacob Hoggard, Nelly Furtado, and Martin Sheen. The highlight of this event was listening to all of the great mentors discussing bullying, making life happen, and making the change in our world.
I appreciated this experience so much because of the wonderful people involved.
We Thank You One and All!
I want to thank Ford Canada, Young Drivers of Canada, Blackberry, Boots and Hearts, Eric Alper, Telus Canada, We Day, Molson Canada, HP Canada, Iams, Coleman Canada and all of the other great brands that we worked with this year for the experiences, giveaways and reviews. It has been our extreme pleasure and an honour to work with all of you.
Whether it’s for entertainment, a great cause, or simply providing information to our readership, knowing that we have made a difference in some small way is what matters most to us. We look forward to a continued relationship with everyone that we have worked with and look forward to new relationships in the future!
