Moving to Canada, eh?!

Today marks our 2nd full week as Canadian immigrants. If you told me 3 years ago, while I was living in Nashville that I would be moving from Pittsburgh to Vancouver I probably would have had a panic attack. But we have been blessed with a wonderful job relocation opportunity to move in one of the most beautiful areas in the world.
How did this happen all happen? Well, let me summarize:
Zac was scouted out by a fitness and yoga apparel company, perhaps you have hear of them, Lululemon. At that time we were looking for a opportunity to move to the Pacific Northwest region and to work with a lifestyle retailer and Lululemon fit the bill.
Leaving Pittsburgh was a hard decision to make. We has dear friends and neighbors who we could barely tear ourselves away from and a beautiful home that we were making our own. Sometime there are sacrifices to make in pursuing dreams and goals.
Since we have left Pittsburgh we have been blessed with rewards and immense good luck.
1) Zac has started his new job and loves it already
2) We were able to sell our Pittsburgh home in less than 2 weeks for a profit.
3) We have found a new apartment to rent here in Vancouver that is blocks away from work, the beach, and several other great features.
4) I have received not one but TWO job offers from two great companies. Both of which want me to start on Monday, so my day's as a housewife are soon over.

Hopefully in the next few days I will share with you all of the fun experiences in our travels here and while we explore our new home.
Until then, here are some teasers pictures.

Sunset Beach, at sunset of course

Hiking in Capilano Park

Capilano Park (with Cotton photo bombing the shot)

Zac after the Vancouver Sun Run 10K

Afternoon on Kits Beach

Upcoming Trip!

News Flash! Zac and I are going to Italy.
Why? > Why not!
When are we going? > Sunday (in 4 days!!!)
When did you decided to go? > Officially, about 3 weeks ago. But we have been talking about it for several months now. But just recently Zac found a great deal on a trip, I mailed off and expedited my passport update (because my old passport still had my maiden name on it) and now here we go.

I'll post pictures later. But in the mean time you can follow my Instagrams @ http://web.stagram.com/n/kellcook/

Ciao!

Oh Hipsters....

Are you watching ABC's Happy Endings? If not, you should check it out.
Any who... last night's episode had a reference to hipsters. Oh hipsters... you are odd, snobby, ironically fashionable and you are fun to watch. Nashville had their fair share of hipsters, East Nashville to be exact. But this show cracked me up because they had the hipsters defined to a tee. I just wonder if they found it as humorous as I did.

But, in honesty, hipsters, I have love for you. Even if your desire is to be unique and not care about your appearance, but you all dress the same and you do strive to be trendy. Cheers!

A down payment and 40 Signatures Later...

A month and a half ago Zac and I put an offer on a house. (You don't remember that: here is something to remind you.) After several agonizing weeks dealing with lenders and what not we finally closed!

Sadly, it will be over a week before we will be living there because we have to wait on the movers. But we did take Cotton there to introduce him to his new home. He loves the place, he has tons of room to run around inside.

I'll keep you posted as we move in and settle in the new place.

Here is an interesting article on our new neighborhood: NY Times



Spring Time and Fun Times in Pittsburgh

Zac and I have had an amazing week this week. I started my job and I am so optimistic about my future there at AE.
Thursday night we went to a KT Tunstall solo show in a convert music hall that was formally a church, you can imange the acoustics there were amazing. Her solo show consisted of her, her guitar or piano, and a loop machine. I am a huge fan of KT's music and she is so fun and witty everytime I see her in concert. You should remember her from her hit in 2006ish with Black Horse and Cherry Tree, but since then she has mainly stayed on the independent music scene. Here is a clip of that song from the show.

Saturday was a rainy spring day, so we ventured out to the suburbs to price shop IKEA furniture and to find some home decoration inspiration. We were able to leave with only purchasing a coke. However I was very temped to buy a small lamp and a plan for my work desk. That evening the weather cleared up, so we walked to neighborhood Mexican restaurant for some "happy food and margaritas."
Sunday we took a bike tour of the city between our new home and our new work. Spring is definitely blowing in, and I literally mean "blowing in." It was quite a windy day! But the sun was out and everything is starting to bloom. It am so exciting and I can't wait to move in and settle in here!

On the Hot Metal Bridge with the city in the background

Over my shoulder is the AE Corporate office, notice the huge metal eagle on the side of the building.

The Weekend is Over

I hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend. I did, in-fact I have had a nice long weekend. A 44 day weekend to be exact. But that is coming to a close because tomorrow I start my new job. (More on that later!)

But I would rather reminisce on the fun I had this past weekend. Here are some shots from mine and Zac's day at the Pittsburgh Pirates ball game.


The view of the field and the city from our seats.



Zac on the bridge as we walk to the game.

A hot day calls for a cool treat. :)

I hope everyone has a great week!

Final Weant Wedding

With in 10 months and 4 days my brother, sister and I were all wed.
I know, I know, my poor parents.

This past weekend my sister married the love of her life, David. It was at our home church and the reception was held at a nearby park. The weather was warm and beautiful. The dogwood trees and azaleas were in full bloom and thankfully for the spring showers earlier that week the pollen was washed away (Yea! no need for Zyrtec).
I was Morgan's Matron of Honor (yeish, that makes me sound old). Jeremy and Abbi were a groomsman and a bridesmaid and Zac was an usher.

Here are some favorite videos from the wedding.
~ There are several more videos on YouTube. Click here for all of the videos that I have uploaded.~

The morning of the wedding we had a Bridal Breakfast at the the Maid of Honor's lake house. So we arrived by boat.

Morgan's friends all helped to make a scrapbook of fun time they had with Morgan. Judith Anne wrote an awesome rap on her page. I love it!

David isn't a huge fan of cake, so they decided to serve Banana Pudding instead. As you can see, David is a fan of pudding!

My 3rd cousin Lucian is such a ham! He gets out on the dance floor and puts on a show at every wedding. David thought that he could hang with him, but I think Lucian has him beat.

Happy wishes to the newly-wed couple! We love you both.