Research & Read, Write & Repeat

That was today. Plus wrote the news – the Android Auto infotainment system launched today, and the 2015 Hyundai Sonata is the first to offer it.

Research was for my column, and the topic I chose is proving to be tougher to sum up than I thought it’d be – under the copyright act, a new law prohibiting you from working on your own car may soon come into affect.

Then I fell into an RFID research hole, but was pulled out when a little worker stopped by. An hour later the lawns and porches were beautiful, and we picked flowers.

This Week’s Flowers. From my own garden.
First time I ever typed that!

And lilacs at that, one of my top 3 favourite smells.

Right now I’m pulling my usual sneak-away-from-parties move to sit in some silence, and write this. So hi hi and sorry I have to run, TTYT

 

 

Canada’s Oldest ‘Hair Stylist & Blogger’ Team

KeriBlog_Brennen_Demelo

Brennen Demelo and I are.

Back in the beginning of blogging – 2008-ish – the first partnership any blog girl worth her salt landed was a hair stylist. When Brennen and I shook hands, I’d just moved to Toronto and was producing ‘The Canadian Explorer’ and he had one sink in the back of someone else’s business.

We’re now in our 7th year, and are
the only partnership still intact.

Above is us through the years.

Below is us in 2008.

Today, he’s a leading salon in Toronto and Canada, opened a second location in Barrie, for years has been the top L’Oreal Canada representative, styles many of the magazines covers you see, and I’ve become one of the country’s top auto journalists.

Blog tag = Brennen Demelo (27)

Go too.

BrennenDemelo.com

416 301 1072

 

 

Now _That_ was a Long Weekend

My neighbour and I kicked it off Friday night in my front yard laughing our heads off, putting the world to rights and playing YouTube DJ.

The grainy photos convey the evening’s tone.

He gave me a lawnmower, and Saturday morning I cut my lawn for the very first time using “Little Red.” A task that takes way longer than I thought it would.

Satisfying though, because it’s a task that’s polar opposite of what I usually do (type myself into oblivion.)

Sunday my neighbours took me ATVing on a motocross track (told ya I have the best neighbours.)

This Week’s Car was perfect for the occasion, too – a 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek.

Have a dedicated post about ATVing coming soon, until then here’s the short story – loved it, want more.

Of course the weekend included one of these.

To which I was a hit when I showed up with a basket of beer thanks to Bud Light #BudLightApple

Monday I meandered around and didn’t feel like documenting, so didn’t.

Only photo I took.

Hope you had a great long weekend too. Now let’s attack this week.

 

 

This is my 2,000th Blog Post

Tada!

Above isn’t me right now, to be clear. Things kicked off at 5:30 am to keep this dream alive. But it will be me later.

Having a blog is the best. I’d have forgotten so much of the nonsense I get myself into if I hadn’t documented it here. In 2014 I didn’t miss a day eh, not one. It’s gonna be so great when I’m 80 and click through the archives, “oh ya that, and oh that time awwww.”

My blog has: put me in millions of dollars of new cars, tons of track time, endless products, sent me around North America, and got me the best job in the world – auto journalist.

If you’ve been thinking to start a blog, DO IT. It’s constantly surprising what it can produce for you.

For your blogging inspiration:

– creating a blog posts looks like
– and sometimes feels like this
– when stuck for ideas, just make an animated gif 
– this will become the scariest sight to see

– you’ll have to learn a little code, it’s okay it’s not hard
– luxury blogging looks like this
– maintain 2 folders on your hard drive
– my blog makes it through bank filters #proud
– this is polishing a blog

– tips for taking a good profile pic
– blogging is a _lot_ of time alone at your computer
– what crushing a blog post looks like
– making headers and sidebar art is genuinely fun

Finally, build the blog IRL before building it online.

Plus, blogging and jogging pants are practically synonymous, can’t go wrong with that pairing!

Here’s to a great long weekend, that it doesn’t rain on us, and that you laugh a lot.

Thanks for always checking in,

xo Keri

 

 

Why I Don’t Mind Paying Taxes

There’s 2 reasons:

1 – paying more tax means I’m making more money

2 – everything comes with a price, including living in the world’s best country.

Doesn’t mean I like doing them though. It’s like an exercise in being bored-to-death. Luckily I have the world’s best accountant who never loses patience with me. Thank you, S!

So like all good slackers, I took advantage of this year’s 5-day extension, and am thrilled to type as of 1 hour ago taxes were filed and paid, it is OVER.