Online Shopping Fails

With cyber sales galore this month, I went online to do a little shopping. If you’re a student such as myself, you know how stressful it is to spend money. I can barely afford my Autopac payment, let alone a new t-shirt.

I decided to write about the horrors of online shopping, especially because I fell victim to it not too long ago. I purchased a pair of beautiful UGG boots off of a random website, and when I got them, I was devastated how awful they were. I paid $90 for a piece of crap, essentially. Thank god for PayPal! I opened a dispute, and in a few weeks, Voila! Refund.

I keep seeing all these online clothing sites that have outrageously low prices, but is it too good to be true? Below are some sites that I found that found online shopping to be pretty hysterical….

Brides Beware
This Facebook page says on their "about" section, “We are raising awareness of online companies selling cheap copied wedding gowns, prom & bridesmaids. Many will show illegally obtained images of beautiful designer gowns online, but you will be buying a cheap copy, it won’t be the real thing.”

China Daily

An online forum called China Daily, exposes sites such as Taobao, who tricks shoppers with glorified fashion photos. According to the site, after Cyber Monday (November 11), people are posting angry selfies of the clothing they received. 

So what can you do if you fall victim to this unfortunate situation? 

-Call your Credit Card company and claim a dispute.

-If you paid through PayPal, you can also claim a dispute.

-Contact the Better Business Bureau to report businesses.

-Write about it! Take to the Internet, your best source for spreading the word.

How can they get away with selling such awful clothes?

Unfortunately, many online stores are fakes, and provide stolen images from big designers.

Moral? If it's too good to be true, it probably is. Sorry friends.

Introducing....Courtney brand

I had to make a public brand for Public Relations. I put a lot of effort into this, as it was fun to essentially "create" what I thought my own image would be.

It gave me a lot of insight into who I was and what I believed in. This Prezi is a canvas of my personality, and a look at how I represent myself creatively.



Click this link to check out Courtney brand:
http://prezi.com/g-w5phzeiizm/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

If I Stay–A Movie Review

Tonight I took a much needed break from homework and watched the movie If I Stay. It's been awhile since a movie has rocked my emotions. I'm pretty sure I cried out a whole ocean. I'm sure some of you are already rolling your eyes, but hear me out. This movie didn't have the typical boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, boy and girl break up, boy and girl get back together storyline. It was a lot deeper, a storyline to make you appreciate what you have and not take it for granted.

**WARNING—SPOILER!!!!**

Chloe Grace Moretz plays Mia, a regular high school girl that plays the cello. She meets a boy named Adam who plays in a band—who plays completely different music than Mia is into. 

The storyline takes us through the struggles of following their dreams while still being together. Mia and Adam make plans to go to College together, but plans take a turn when Adam's band gets signed and Mia gets an audition for Juilliard—a prestigious music school. There love is tested since Adam doesn't want to do the whole long distance thing, and Mia won't compromise her dreams.

So here's the plot twist: Mia, her mother, father and brother all get in the car to go to an event, and on the way, the car crashes. Mia has an out of body experience, and suddenly she is watching herself on the ground bleeding and unconscious in the aftermaths of the crash. She overlooks her mother, father and brother being brought into the hospital, and one by one, they all die.

Gut wrenching.

After watching her family die, Mia believes that she has nothing to live for. She knows that she gets to choose if she stays on earth or if she goes to Heaven, but she can't seem to get to either one. Mia must decide whether she will die with her parents and brother, or live and stay with Adam and the rest of her support system.

I won't tell you the end, because that's ridiculously rude to spoil it, but it made me think of what I would choose if I was faced with the same decision (I know—it's a movie...)

What would you do? Would you be able to live life after everything was taken away from you? It's not far fetched from what people experience here on earth, in different situations and all over the world. 

Watching these kind of movies truly puts things into perspective. I've seen too many lives being taken, and families suffering. I just want to remind everyone to love deep and love hard, respect family and friends, and make the most of every minute with your loved ones. 

...

“I'm not sure this is a world I belong in anymore. I'm not sure that I want to wake up.” 
― Mia, If I Stay

“All I can think about is how fucked up it would be for your life to end here, now. I mean I know that your life if fucked up no matter what now, forever. And I'm not dumb enough to think that I can undo that, that anyone can. But I can't wrap my mind around the notion of you not getting old, having kids, going to Juilliard, getting to play that cello in front of a huge audience, so that they can get the chills the way I do every time I see you pick up your bow, every time I see you smile at me.” 
― Adam, If I Stay

Transit Shenanigans

Photo courtesy of Flickr

It’s pretty common for prices to go up in Canada every couple years due to inflation.

For many, the bus is an economical and eco-friendly option for transportation. If you work downtown, the struggle is real when it comes to traffic, and most importantly, parking. The Convention Centre is currently charging $200 a month to park your vehicle. Similarly, the ongoing rate for lots in the area is over $150. In regards to students, University of Winnipeg, University of Manitoba and Red River College all face the same ordeal—an average of $5 or more a day to park at meters or local lots. So where can Winnipegers save a buck?

Certainly not with Winnipeg Transit as prices are set to rise again on January 1, 2015. Below are the expected rates from Winnipeg Transit:

Full Fare	2014	2015
Cash	2.55	2.60
Ticket	2.20	2.25
Max 5 (Weekday Pass)	19.80	20.25
SuperPass (Mon-Sun Pass)	22.00	22.50
Monthly Pass	84.70	86.65
Reduced (Youth) Fare	2014	2015
Cash	2.05	2.10
Ticket	1.53	1.57
SuperPass (Mon-Sun Pass)	15.30	15.70
Monthly Pass	58.90	60.45
Senior Fare	2014	2015
Cash	2.05	2.10
Ticket	1.10	1.13
SuperPass (Mon-Sun Pass)	11.00	11.25
Monthly Pass	42.35	43.35
Post-Secondary	2014	2015
Monthly Pass	67.75	69.35
Handi-Transit	2014	2015
Cash	2.55	2.60
Ticket	2.20	2.25
Senior Ticket	1.10	1.13
Post Secondary Student Pass	67.75	69.35
Monthly Pass	84.70	86.65
Senior Monthly Pass	42.35	43.35

As you can see, students aren’t given any breaks in 2015, monthly passes going up almost $2.  In Calgary, adult fares are $3, and youths (ages 6 – 17) are $2. According to Expatistan, an online comparison between cities, Winnipeg is 20 per cent cheaper than Calgary when it comes to the cost of living. So when it comes to bus fare, why is that youth passes are five cents less than Calgary’s transit fare when they are proven to be much more expensive?  The big shocker is the youth monthly passes; Winnipeg will be 45 cents more in 2015 compared to Calgary.

A story running in the Winnipeg Sun on Nov. 25, 2014 provides overview of the costs. In the “Reader’s Comments” section, many people are not happy about it.

One person comments, “wow transit keeps increasing the rates and wonders why ridership is falling. I live 12 min by car from work and takes me two hours by bus, 3 of them to get there pretty sad not to mention busses are never on time and a lot of missed connection as well..”

Another person said, “I'm sick and tired of their fare increases! The service never gets any better. Maybe we need a competitor...”

Regardless, it is still significantly cheaper to ride the bus rather than service a car, pay for insurance and gas. In my case, I still insure my car, as well as ride the bus, so I’m paying for two services.

It would be nice of Winnipeg Transit to implement better service to back up their rising prices, or offer additional discounts to students or people with low income.

I would also encourage people to car pool if possible, a budget friendly idea with tons of perks—great company, divided parking and gas costs that could very well be less than a bus pass.

However your travelling, be safe and have a happy holiday!

My Vine Video

Please click below to view my:

Vine Video


In the video, we had to promote a product. I chose the light up lip gloss that I received on a wine bottle as a free gift.

Enjoy!

Slednecks Manitoba Edition

My dad built a cabin in Pinawa Bay for our family when I was ten-years-old. 

I remember driving out with my dad one random weekend, he stopped the truck in front of a stretch of forest that was staked out for three separate lots. As we got out to look, my dad told me that I could pick which lot we were going to buy. I thought it was the coolest thing ever; I ended up picking the middle one.

Seventeen-years later on a Friday evening, My boyfriend, two dogs and I, took the hour-and-a-half drive out to what we call our own Winter Wonderland.

When the word cabin comes to mind, I think of snowmobiling, fires, isolation and relaxation. I believe that everyone needs to experience a typical winter weekend out in the woods. After all, that's what being Canadian is all about!

For example, when taking the dogs out for a walk mid-morning, we stumbled across our neighbours coming back from a successful hunting trip. 

If you know me well, you know I love animals. Hunting doesn’t quite bother me if the meat is used for food supply. I’ve never seen a deer being prepared before—I can’t say that I will be providing fresh buck for my family tonight, but I was amazed at the process.

My favourite part of the cabin is the fresh fallen snow. The scenery is picturesque—a serene white palette, untouched. The smell of wood stoves burning is truly intoxicating. We brought our dog’s, Tang and Hershey, down to the boat dock, and we were amazed that the lake was already frozen.

In the afternoon, we sipped perked coffee and BBQ’d hot dogs. We slipped into a local store and bought some fireworks to commence our fantastic weekend.

After a delicious steak dinner, we started a fire outside and lit our fireworks, mug’s of hot chocolate in hand.

It was amazing to put down the books and enjoy being in the now. I think it's important to take a minute for yourself and take advantage of Manitoba's beautiful nature. 

Happy Winter friends!

Politics and HUMOUR? Yes, no, maybe?

The Rachel Browne Theatre at 211 Bannatyne Avenue is an intimate setting because of the seven rows of seats and single scene room that places the audience quite literally in the laps of the four actors.

On Wednesday evening, Creative Communication students at Red River College attended the play Proud, by Michael Healey, a satire spin on the world of politics, and the imagined response to a Conservative lead in the 2011 federal election.

The protagonist, Stephen Harper, finds himself face-to-face with femme fatale character, Jisbella Lyth, a younger MP that has no use for government other than the perks it brings (sex).
Harper, played by Ross McMillan, mimicked the gestures and discourse of Canada’s Prime Minister perfectly. Even though I’m not well groomed in politics, I was able to identify the character easily.

On the other hand, I was disappointed with the agenda that Healey wrote for Ms. Lyth, played by Daria Puttaert. Finding herself suddenly down the hall from Harper, she barges into his office and requests a condom, a great first impression.

I found it very Scarlett Letter-esque that Lyth was wearing red stiletto shoes when she enters Harper's office in the first scene. I have mixed feelings on how Lyth is portrayed by Healey. On one hand, she appears desperate, slutty and disconcerned with proper workplace behaviour- I mean, just how dumb do you have to be? I feel like a man certainly wrote this play, as society should be trying to stifle sexism, not glorifying it.

On the other hand, I suppose there is no harm in poking fun at the sex lives of politics sometimes, male or female. I'm unsure if the Healey made Lyth border line nymph as a funny twist, or because he feels that woman have sleazy motives.

More infuriating, why does a woman have to use sex to gain power? And, why does the representation of being a female and young come off so stupid?

In this day and age, there are many fine lines when it comes to the interpretations of woman. Digging deeper, maybe Healey's motives were to write something in which people would debate after seeing his play. Whatever his purpose, it sparked major discussion and the reconfirmation of values in each and every one of us sitting in that theatre. A great storyline, although it may have been more effective without all the sex and swearing.

I laughed, I frowned, I gasped and I shuttered. Attending this play did not change my political beliefs, or inspire them in any way, although it did spark many feelings I have when it comes to principles. It may have slightly opened my mind to the possibility of debauterous activities in Parliament Hill. It reminded me that government is filled with people who engage in 'questionable' activity, just like us 'plain' people. It would make an excellent television series, in my opinion. I have seen many Broadway plays in my life. When I was in New York, I saw Wicked, Hairspray, and Jersey Boys. Proud couldn't have been further from the sort of 'play' I was expecting, but I can't say I was not interested.

I found the talkback session troubling. Ross McMillan was extremely witty when answering questions from the audience, although I didn't feel as if any of the actor's had too much of a political background or knowledge. I assumed they were passionate about politics in their real life- more of an assumption if anything. Realistically, this could mean they were extremely good actors.

A question was raised about the insinuation of media being "portrayed negatively." Puttaert answered awkwardly, insisting that the play did not have anything to do with media. In my opinion, Healey very much presented the media as vultures, insinuating that it's all a big game to throw the 'dogs' a bone in order to give them a false lead.

All in all, I suppose we can chalk Proud up to be an amusing and somewhat mocking portrayal of woman, putting a dramatic spin in politics and their personal lives. It was a good play for $10, artistic in the sense that there was four actors and one set, although I probably won't be hitting up anything of that nature anytime in the future.

Winnipeg Love

Oh Canada! Manitoba has so much to offer. Instead of daydreaming about moving away, or taking that well-deserved vacation out of the country, how about taking advantage of some of the awesome things that our Province has to offer? Here is a list of some of the fantastic things you can check out:

Winnipeg Jet’s Hockey Games

When the MTS Centre was built in 2004, it sparked hope in all of Winnipeg’s hearts’ that the Jet’s would return since the team’s departure in 1996. In 2011, the Winnipeg Jet’s played their first season, provoking enough excitement to trump Christmas. And three years later, the fan support and energy is still as strong as ever, with sold out games and Jet’s merchandise proudly displayed on the head’s of fans’. We pay tribute to True North by shouting it’s name during the Canadian Anthem at games, genuinely thankful for bringing the team back to Winnipeg. Winnipeg Jet’s games are a great reason to get out and have some fun, the atmosphere is thrilling and the cheering is contagious.

 

Winnipeg Jet's home opener game

Socials

Manitoba is practically famous for it’s fundraising parties that consist of a hall, DJ, bar, and a cause to celebrate. For example, couples’ planning to get hitched will invite 400 of their closest friends’ and dance until 1 A.M. A social is one of the only places in which you can eat for free, dance, drink for cheap and win prizes, all in one establishment. The term “bologna shoulder,” throwing lunchmeat on your friend’s back, originated from the social. Dress code? No problem. A social does not frown upon blue jeans and cotton Hanes. All hail the social.

A typical Manitoba social

Restaurants

A few minutes on the Urbanspoon mobile app, and you’ll be more overwhelmed than ever after scoping out dinner spots in Winnipeg. The variety of restaurants in Winnipeg is huge, consisting of different ethnic establishments, price points and locations. Not only is there a large selection, but the majority of the restaurants are all privately owned and exclusive, as well as unique to Winnipeg!

Sushi!

Osborne Village and Corydon Avenue

There’s a special kind of magic when you enter the trendy neighbourhood of Osborne Village and Corydon Avenue. The boutiques offer a different approach to shopping, a more intimate and less ‘branded’ experience. You can find just about any kind of business while walking down the Italianesque stretch on Corydon. A popular place called Spin Restaurant, doubling as a Martini Bar is beside a coffee shop and down the street is a candy connoisseur’s dream, The Sugar Mountain. Grab a gelato at Nucci’s Gelati or a burger at the popular vegetarian alternative, Unburger. The retro diner, Baked Expectations, is a dessert staple for any sweet tooth looking for fresh baking and drool-worthy treats. I promise, you’ll feel like you’ve crossed into another continent.

Osborne Village - photo courtesy of hirshhometeam.ca

Entertainment

Regardless of rain or shine, Winnipeg thrives with entertainment. Assiniboine Park features the Lyric Theatre, an outdoor stage that hosts live entertainment for people in the park. During the summer, you can bring a blanket, and some friends and lay out on the grass while watching band’s play. Similar in concept, Rainbow Stage in Kildonan Park offers professional musicals in an open concept auditorium. In the Exchange District, Centennial Concert Hall hosts the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Manitoba Opera and Broadway Shows such as Wicked, to name a few. The MTS Centre, home to the Winnipeg Jet’s, is a hot spot for concerts. If you’re in the mood for some laughs, Rumor’s Restaurant and Comedy Club is a great place to grab some food and drinks while watching stand up comedy. 

Assiniboine Park - photo courtesy of flickr.com