Today I did two facials and a pedicure. I came home feeling empty and am now wondering what the meaning of life is. There are many beautiful things that people have offered on the internet to help those desperate souls who type "what is the meaning of life?" into Google on a Wednesday night. It's inspiring that people reach out to help one another through this electronic medium. Humans, despite their many faults, possess great inner beauty and in my opinion, the greatest of these are hope and love. It's sweet that people believe in the meaning of life enough to help others find it. I am awed by my Mother's hope sometimes; when the world seems so void of better horizons or meaning, she always brings the sunrise back into view for me. Her love is limitless. What a joy it would be to find a life partner like that! And yet I don't have one - many close calls - but never the right one. Sometimes the loneliness nearly gnaws my insides out, especially living in a city where I know nearly no one and have limited opportunities to meet people. But she believes that someday I will and I certainly hope so. Life takes so many strange twists and turns. I am always surprised to see that just when I think life has become stagnant (the big voice above says "and this is where it stops, Julia..."), it changes into something I had never expected. I hope it changes a good lot more and evolves into something I am happy and satisfied. And they say "be happy in the here and now". I do a pretty good job of that on a day to day basis. But the fact is, I can't help craving the proximity of family or the desire to be blissfully happy with a significant other and perhaps children; to have good friends around. Maybe to get a pedicure once in awhile!? (I've only done about 20 so far this week!?) The way many of us live, single as adults, in strange cities and wondering how to connect with others is, I suppose, a common human experience. Still, our tribal ancestral conditioning and likely our very natures make this a difficult way of life. That is why people get married, stay in their hometown and work in the same jobs from day to day: there is security and happiness in community. Yet there are many who stray the path like I have. And nothing seems clear. "Hello out there! Are there any like me!?" Ah. Well. There are indeed many things to be thankful for in this life. I made a good many people feel excellent today and am grateful for that. There is also a soul to life, like a vein that runs through the centre, creating a connection between all the disparate events in one's life and whispering meaning. And I am grateful for that too.

Well here I am! It has been a long time since July 2009 and boy, do I have a story to tell... But we'll start with my life as an aesthetician. I never thought I'd become an aesthetician. When I suggested it to my (now ex-) boyfriend, he said "do you want to live your life in poverty?" That was in 2010 when I was still the owner of Nadarra. When I suggested it to one of my best friends in 2012, she said "I think it would be a waste of your potential painting nails all day." But as I am discovering, there's a lot more to being an aesthetician than the perceived lack of earning potential and painting nails. And aestheticians have an interesting story to tell. This blog will be about my work, the vast breadth of knowledge belonging to a good aesthetician, and the ups and downs of life as it continues to evolve. Since everyone can appreciate a bit of cheer and colour in their lives, let's start with the salad I made tonight: a healthy, unconventional combo of oranges and greens that does a body good. I have been fortunate to have a body that loves me (even when I don't), allowing me to chase whatever dreams present themselves, so I must be doing something right! This is a broccoli, cilantro, mandarin orange, orange pepper and oyster mushroom salad. It was very good; perhaps not the best salad I've ever made, but will taste better tomorrow once the veggies have marinated a bit. To make it: - Chop vegetables - Peel oranges and break into slices - Crush very small clove of garlic - Add garlic to about 3 tbsp olive oil, 4 tbsp lime juice, a pinch of sugar, 1 tsp grated ginger - Roast mushrooms in oven at 400 degrees F for 10 mins - Add hot mushrooms to salad, pour dressing over, toss and serve!