Saturday Special: Get To Know A Canadian Blogger – Featured This Week: Beautifulsideofhectic

I thought it was high time that I featured some of the fabulous Canadian bloggers I’ve come to know. They are interesting, clever and they work really hard. A little recognition is overdue. Please leave comments and show them some love. I know most of you already read their blogs or enter their giveaways, so here’s your chance to give back

Please enjoy! – Tina

Cheryl and Paralympian Josh Cassidy

http://beautifulsideofhectic.com

1. Tell us a little about yourself. Who is Cheryl?

Well… I’m pretty much an open book on my own corner of the interwebs and frankly, I’m famous there. Ok, I’m probably not even famous on my own blog since my laptop broke and I have mummified crickets hanging out over there. Annnnnnnnnyway, I’m Cheryl. I have 2 little girls named Lauren who is 5.5 and Jillian who is 4. We also allow my husband (and their dad :p) Adam and our cat Timbit (we’re an awesome Canadian family, eh?) to live with us. We’re originally from Nova Scotia but a 3 month work term for Adam has now morphed into 5 years. I think we’re here to stay.

2. How long have you been blogging and why did you start

According to my archives I’ve been blogging since 2007. 8 months after Lauren was born, we moved to Toronto, so I began my blog as a way to keep our family and friends up to date on what we were doing in the big city. Honestly, I’m sure none of our family or friends even read that because I apparently thought I was 12 with  ”dear diary” entries. In all honesty, I never really expected my blog to take the turn that it has. I began updating more frequently after Jillian’s early arrival (she was 10 weeks early) and now that has moved into sharing our families story about living with a cerebral palsy diagnosis. That’s definitely not all I blog about, but it is the main component.

3. If you could meet anyone you wanted, who would it be and why?

There are way too many people I’d like to meet. However at the top of my list at the moment, is probably Rhea.We “met” online a couple of years ago and we hit it off. We talk pretty much everyday (except she’s getting busy now that she has a big girl job and all) and I’d love to finally meet her face to face. She invited me to go skydiving for her 40th birthday in February… Wonder how Adam would feel about that one!

4. What is your favourite thing about Canada?

My favourite thing about Canada. Hm. That’s REALLY tough. I’ve visited every province in Canada, now I just have to hit the territories before they make any more! I loved the trees in BC (along with camping and the rain), I absolutely loved our time in Newfoundland and I can’t narrow it down to just a few things. The people in Nova Scotia and the Annapolis valley are amazing. Toronto also has it’s qualities, mostly I’m grateful for all the services we receive here for Jillian.

5. What are your top 3 food choices?

Top 3 food choices… when I was younger, I always replied with “chicken and chocolate- but not together”. Now that I have found out what a mole sauce is, it’s on the top of my list to try together! I love avocados, chocolate and coffee. Don’t argue that coffee isn’t food. It comes from a bean, therefore making it a very awesome legume. (I can usually justify anything… Like chocolate cake for breakfast!)

6. Share something you like to do in your spare time “non blogging related”

In my previous life, I went to university to become a music teacher and although I don’t practice/perform anymore, music is still such a huge part of my life. But, really, I do have a pretty awesome spare time gig. I’m a family mentor/advisor for Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.  (My full title is a little lengthy, I am a family advisor/mentor/family as faculty through the family resource centre. I also sit on a number of committees within the hospital, the vice chair of the Family Advisory Committee and I spearhead “Parent Talk” which is a peer to peer outpatient support group). This hospital has done so much for Jillian and our whole family that I wanted to give something back. Since I couldn’t donate money, I thought I could give them some of my time. It’s such a rewarding experience and I love it. Makes being a volunteer pretty fabulous!

7. Is there anything else you’d like to share?