Hi Friends!

Change of plans....it's Tune-LESS Tuesday this week. I have been quite the busy bee and haven't had a chance to really sit down and pick my Top 5 tunes from Nova Scotia yet. I pinky promise that I will return next week with a great batch!

So it's Day 15 of PEPSI Refresh. Yep, it's still happening! I think you are all getting pretty tired of the daily vote, eh? 
I get it. I really do!

Just HEAR ME OUT:

1) Your daily vote matters SO much. It takes two seconds to get your vote in and then you are done for the day. Please, please, please keep it up and don't quit! We're currently stuck in 12th place and we need to get movin'! Every time you miss your vote, my chances decrease! I watched a group in another category go from 15th to 8th last week - it IS still possible!

2) Your daily vote could change the outcome of the entire project. As I have stated many times before, I am committed to making the Roadtrip with Reason happen no matter how tough it might be but a $5,000 grant would make it a lot easier. It would allow me reach out to more non-profits, build a larger audience, increase the quality of the project, engage more Canadians in the idea of giving back, and grant more of the non-profits wishes ... among other things! The roadtrip has so much potential to grow and have a positive impact on various organizations and communities. I really believe that.

3) I appreciate your votes more than you know. Whether you are one of my dedicated friends who believe in my dreams, or just a kind stranger.... your support means so much to me!

Please VOTE!
Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote! VOTE!

Now instead of a tune, I am going to leave you with this clip of my Cogeco TV interview. Eeek! Makes me nervous.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Happy trails & travels,
-- Becky xo

Hi Friends!

Can you believe it's Sunday already? I really think weekends are too short. Anyone interested in starting a revolution? Let's work Tuesday-Thursday and enjoy weekends from Friday-Monday? Eh? Eh? No? Haha!

So as I mentioned in my previous post, I was contacted by 3 people on the CouchSurfing website who were looking for a place to sleep in Muskoka on Saturday night. I think I have stated before that to reduce my costs during the Roadtrip with Reason I had planned on couchsurfing throughout the entire journey. I had heard great things from friends who had couchsurfed before and I was really interested in it. What a great way to make new friends and get a local perspective. That being said, I had never experienced it for myself and wasn't exactly sure how it would work...

It was a success! I am so glad that Jessica, Francois and Thomas contacted me! I had such a great time hosting them last night (even though I feel like they were hosting me). As soon as I met them I felt pretty comfortable - they were cheerful and talkative and silly - and I was so relieved that we could understand eachother. (I learned later on in the evening that they were nervous about being able to communicate as well). Jessica and Francois have lived together in Toronto for about a year, and Thomas (Francois' brother) has been here for about 3 weeks and is just beginning his travels. I was amazed at how well he could communicate, even though he was so new to the language. There were many times when I would be chit chatting away (oops) and they would have to translate for Thomas. I felt badly but I also quite  enjoyed it because French is such a beautiful language.

They made me a fantastic meal of salmon and pasta, served with french white wine! It was delicious and the dinner conversation was great too. I had picked up some cupcakes from Sweet Aroma to serve in the evening as dessert and was so excited to find out that Thomas had NEVER eaten a cupcake before. I didn't realize that cupcakes were a North American thing...but they were enjoyed! I also had a chance to tell them about the Roadtrip with Reason and even got to snap a 'do your part & show some heart' picture. We finished the night off with big hugs and a little ukelele tune. It was great and I wish it could've lasted longer!

Now that I have my first couchsurfing experience under my belt, I am even more excited to be hosted while on the road. I also can't wait to host again - so if you're in Muskoka and need a couch, I am your girl (until July)!

Anyway, it's dinner time and I have some tasty leftovers to warm up. Lucky me!

Don't forget to get your Sunday VOTES in for the Pepsi Refresh Project! I think it's time for us to move on from 12th...

Happy trails & travels!
-- Becky xo

Happy Saturday!

I realize I didn't post anything up yesterday. To be honest, I felt guilty (still do) writing about needing votes when there are clearly things in this world that far more important.

Oh, Japan. I haven't been able to look away from the devastating news reports since it all began. It is truly unbelievable. Even in my wildest dreams, I just cannot imagine having to deal with such terrifying and life changing situations. I have said this many times before about natural disasters, political issues and lifestyles that take place around the world. It's shocking and scary and so sad.... it's also the exact opposite of my 'charmed life'.

Man oh man. I am such a lucky girl.

How would you even 'bounce back' after something so terrible?
I wish that someone had the answers on how to fix the problems of the world and the workings of Mother Nature.
I do not. The best thing that I can offer in these situations is to donate a little money, send positive vibes and continue to try to be a better person in hopes that it will make some kind of difference along the road...

All of this being said, the PEPSI Refresh contest has not paused and life must continue ... so please do keep your votes up! We're currently in 12th place and it would be great to get to 11th soon. I appreciate your support very, very much.
 
This evening I have 3 french(wo)men coming to stay with me for the night before they head off on a dogsledding adventure on Sunday. My first couchsurfing experience! I am excited. I hope you have an exciting Saturday too!

Big hugs, warm thoughts and lots of love to you & yours...
-- Becky xo

It's Day 10 of Pepsi Refresh and what a day it has been! We are currently holding our own in 12th place which is great - but I am really hoping we can hit the Top 10 by the end of the weekend. Want to help me hit that goal? It's easy! Just head over to Pepsi Refresh and vote vote vote every day until April 30th. Don't forget to spread the word!

This afternoon I had an interview with TV Cogeco here in Muskoka about the Roadtrip with Reason. I was surprisingly nervous - but I think it turned out just fine! I will (probably) post the footage here next week once it's online ... in the meantime (if you live in Muskoka), you can watch it tonight at 5:30 and 10:00 p.m.

I also recently interviewed with Ian Holroyd from North Oakville Today for a newspaper article. It was posted online today! I didn't even know it was out until I looked at my "mentions" on twitter and noticed that Volunteer Canada had caught on. Not a bad way to find out...not at all! You can read the article HERE, if you so choose...

That is all from me (for now). I must get going....I have to go and get my VOTE in!!! Haha.

Thank you for your continued support, love, encouragement and high fives.

Happy trails & travels,
-- Becky xo

It's Day 9 of PEPSI Refresh! We're currently in 12th place! That's amazing! You're the best!
Please keep it up!

So quite a few years ago my Mom brought home a (signed) book called 'Cool to be Kind: Random Acts and How to Commit to Them" ... so I read the true story of these 4 cool dudes who went across the country in an RV doing Random Acts of Kindness in as many communities as possible. Very cool!
I came across the book when I was packing to move to Muskoka this past summer, so I read it again.
Still very cool. 


Need a reason to VOTE for Roadtrip with Reason today? No problemo!


Reason #6: VOTE for my project! It's the nice thing to do....and it's COOL to be kind!!

THANK YOU for all of your amazing support. This is un-real!

BIG HUGS & HIGH FIVES!
-- Becky xo

Happy International Women's Day!

Yup, it's not ONLY Day 8 of PEPSI Refresh or just Tune-EEE Tuesday (check back later) but it also happens to be a special day for women. This year marks the 100th anniversary of International Women's day - a day for global recognition of women's achievements and successes! Events are held all over the world to celebrate, as well as raise awareness and spark conversation for gender issues. Very cool.

I put together some pictures of a few of the very special women that have touched my life. I am celebrating them today!

So it seems that the International Women's Day theme varies from country to country. In Canada, the basis of the theme for 2011 is "Strong Leadership. Strong Women". It just so happens that as I get older (boo hoo) and grow, I feel it's more important (for me) to be a strong leader and a stronger woman. Independence was something that I never particularly focused on before, but in the recent year(s) of my life I have realized just how important my independence is to me....

So why should you VOTE for Roadtrip with Reason today???

Reason #5: Celebrate STRONG women today with a VOTE for me .... an up & coming leader and strong woman! 

(hopefully)

THANK YOU again for your support, my friends! We have been in between 12th and 13th since last night which is great....keep it up!!
Don't forget to check back later today for my weekly Tune-EEE Tuesday musical feature...

Happy trails & travels,
-- Becky xo

It's Day 7 of PEPSI Refresh & Monday (insert sad trombone).... at least the sun is shining here in Muskoka!
Sunshine makes me think of Summer...which makes me daydream of the Roadtrip with Reason...which makes me smile!

We are still in 13th place and as MUCH as I love the #13, I would really like to see us hit the Top 10 at the end of this week. 
It may be a difficult task but not impossible. Can you help me with this? All you need to do is vote, vote, vote every single day!
Encourage your friends/co-workers/family members etc to VOTE too - it take 2 seconds AND it's good for you...

Your voting support is SO appreciated and needed. Please keep it up!

P.S. Don't forget that you have 10 votes / day, but can only vote ONCE / day on my project. If you have some extra time on your hands, a really awesome way to received additional support from the PEPSI crowd is to comment when you vote on another project (in the 10k, 25k or 100k categories). If you're voting for a cool project every day in the 25K category and leave a message saying "On behalf of Roadtrip with Reason (5K)", those people will often come back and return the voting support. It's a win-win!

That's all for today. Check back tomorrow when I post my weekly Tune-EEE Tuesday feature ... tomorrow is all about music from Newfoundland artists. Hurrah!

Happy trails & travels!

Much LOVE,
-- Becky xo

Good Afternoon Universe!

Today is Day 6 of PEPSI Refresh.
We are in 13th place!
13th place!!!!!
WOW!
13 is my (& my mama's) lucky number.
I have a huge smile on my face.
Your voting support is incredible.
Only 9 more spots to jump.
Amazing.
Please keep up the daily votes.
We can totally do this.
I appreciate it so much.
THANK YOU!!!

WishiHave a spectacular Sunday!

WIth Love,
Becky xo

Hi Friends,

It's Day 5 and it's the weekend. Woot woot!

We are currently sitting in 15th place - solid - yesterday we were in 14th place for about 12 hrs (who's counting? haha) which leads me to believe that we can get back there and go beyond!

One of my besties sent me a message this morning informing me that I am officially on the "Current Leaders" board. I am at the very bottom, but I am there! YAY! Let's keep climbing that ladder with those votes....

I also just wanted to give a quick shout out to all my new friends who have just found Roadtrip with Reason. In that past few days I have had some new sign-ups for my e-newsletter and my daily "hits" have been growing, which is exciting. WELCOME FRIENDS!

As always, thank you SO much for your incredible support.
Your votes really do matter.

Happy trails & travels!

Much LOVE,
-- Becky xo