My lovely folks threw me a Roadtrip with Reason launch party on Saturday night. Super fun!! There was over 80 people there (I know, right?!) and it was such a feel-good afternoon & evening. I had the chance to chitchat about the journey all night long, see some beautiful people, wear big blue glasses AND eat cake. Win! 

Check out some of my fav photo's from the party below....

Picked up the keys to the 2011 Chevy Cruze today! It's an AMAZING vehicle with top-notch features - what an addition to the Roadtrip with Reason project. 

I feel BEYOND lucky & cannot thank Chevrolet Canada enough for their support.

7 days until departure. Holy moly! 
Excitement.
xo 

I have superb news! Henry's Canada has donated a video camera to Roadtrip with Reason.
The use of an HD camcorder will make a HUGE difference in the quality of the videos that are produced throughout the journey. It is a huge relief knowing that the non-profit volunteer videos will be created using high quality equipment.

I am SO grateful to Henry's for 'doing their part & showing some heart' by jumping on board as a Roadtrip with Reason sponsor. They are wonderful!

I am headed to the Oakville store tomorrow to pick up the SAMSUNG HMX-S10 BLACK FULL HIGH DEFINITION CAMCORDER and purchase the rest of the necessary equipment.

12 days until departure.....

In 1.5 weeks my contract will be officially finished with the Arts Council of Muskoka, and I will be moving back to Oakville in preparation for my Roadtrip with Reason. Insanity! I have been living in the lovely town of Bracebridge for an entire year but it feels like I just got here. As (ridiculously) excited as I am for my upcoming journey, I have mixed feelings about leaving this part of my life behind. My very first apartment and real job! It's such a special place to live and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to really get to know Muskoka. I sure hope I have the chance to return one day!

The ACM board & other friends got together this afternoon to throw me a "Going Away" party! They even surprised me by inviting my parents up for the occasion. It was really quite lovely.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was the cake. Haha! It was designed so perfectly - the red Chevy car, the Pepsi can, the "BC or Bust" sign, the moose - such a cute idea.
It was tasty too. Bonus!!!

Sigh. I still can't believe that my dream has turned into reality.
This is really happening! I am really leaving!!

Off I go to pack some boxes.....xo

You are not seeing things.

Chevrolet Canada has stepped up to the plate as Roadtrip with Reason's official VEHICLE SPONSOR.

Can you believe it?!

I will be hitting the road with a 2011 Chevy Cruze.

I could not feel more excited, grateful and lucky.

More on this soon. Just wanted to let you know.

LOVE!
P.S. General Motors Canada happens to be the Automative Sponsor of the Vancouver Canucks.
A sign?! I think so. GO CANUCKS GO!

So excited about these little suckers! These are (very) special edition Roadtrip with Reason t-shirts.
Only 12 of them are being printed. They are TEAM shirts. Receiving one of these means that you are not only a friend of the Roadtrip with Reason project, you are family. Part of the team!
We are TEAM ROADIE!

A few of these will be given to some of the folks who have made this project possible.
The rest will be used as prizes for some of our fun contests that are coming up.

Wooooot!

A SPECIAL THANKS goes to my dear friend (and designer), Sara Farnell. She is responsible for the beauty of the shirt.

An EXTRA SPECIAL THANKS goes out to Classic Embroidery from Winfield, Alberta. They reached out to me via Pepsi Refresh and have provided these shirts.....just because they are lovely folks! Who does that?! They do! I heart them.

Stay tuned for the official Roadtrip with Reason t-shirt.
Coming soooon!

Much Love!

Hi Friends,

It's no secret that I am a lover of all things artistic. The majority of my "adult" life has revolved around studying, supporting, promoting and respecting the arts community. After finalizing my Ottawa dates for the roadtrip (August 25th - 29th), I discovered that a major volunteer-run music festival was taking place at the exact same time. Fate!!

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh, boy! I am so very excited to be able to experience the festival scene as a volunteer. Canada is known for their GREAT musical festivals -  I think it's safe to say that they're an important part of the summer culture all across the country. So many of them rely on their volunteers to have a successful event, and the Ottawa Folk Festival is no different.

This is going to be a really unique opportunity because we will be able to experience many different volunteer options over the course of one weekend.....plus the amazing tunes and local arts community! Psyched!

Interested in volunteering at the Folk Festival too? Click HERE.

Happy trails & travels!

Warmly,
Becky xo

P.S. Check out a great video HERE about the festival's GREEN initiatives! So awesome!

I am not exactly sure what I am doing.

Okay, that's not entirely true. If you happen to be a potential sponsor or participant, don't sound the alarm bells just yet. 
Hear me out!

I began mapping out this project in my head sometime in the early fall of 2010. Soon after, I told a friend about it and then my parents and before I knew it I was pulling an all-nighter to create the first version of this very website. Fast forward 7-ish months and here I am only 60 days away from my departure date. Holy CRAP!

It has been an absolute whirlwind and the panic is starting to set in. Is this normal?! My brain is completely consumed with all of the "what ifs" and even though I am a pretty positive person, the thoughts ain't too pretty...especially at 1:00a.m (now). It's the 1:00a.m. blues. There is no question that I am and always have been a dreamer. I think big and that has both its advantages and disadvantages. In this moment it's a disadvantage. 

My Roadtrip with Reason project is not where I had dreamed it would be. It's not that I am (too) disorganized, it's just that I haven't mastered a skill yet. The most important skill, of course! ENGAGEMENT! I am not sure how to engage as many people as I want to, and that seriously bothers me. Yes, it's just a project and i know it's not going to change the world and blah blah blah....but I want to inspire! I want to make some kind of difference, big or small. I can't do that without at least engaging the people around me.

Don't get me wrong, I have an audience. I look at my stats! Hundreds of peeps visit here daily (like you, maybe) but typically leave without saying anything. Why are you so shy?! Hah. To try and make myself feel better, I remind myself that I do it too. Since I have joined the Twitter world and have been introduced to hundreds of incredible travel bloggers, I find myself reading blog post after blog post and I don't always leave a comment either. I guess it's just human nature?

I think what it comes down to is that I (sometimes) feel inadequate. I don't have a niche! 
I am not a travel blogger (though I sure wish I could get in on their awesome inner circle). 
I am not a journalist (it's obvious, eh?). 
I am not a videographer. 
I am not a non-profit guru. 
I am definitely not Volunteer of the year. 
I have no idea where I fit in.

I know there are always hiccups along the way but tonight I am definitely feeling like the nerdy younger sister that no one wants to play with.  I look at other projects similar to mine and can't help but feel entirely envious. What magical powder are they taking?! Where do I get it?! Note: This is not my subtle way of seeking out a drug dealer. Please leave that kind of magical powder at home. Haha.

I know when I wake up tomorrow things will feel better. Something exciting will happen and I will scratch another thing off of my 'To Do' list and the day will move on...

I DO know what I am doing.
I can do it!
I will.

I just hope that the 1:00 a.m. panic eventually turns into the 1:00 a.m quality sleep.

Sweet dreams.

ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Hi Friends,

I am bacccccccck! Did you miss me? Fear that I ran away without saying goodbye? Don't worry! I've been here the whole time. Since Pepsi Refresh finished I have been working on all the official paperwork. Today I sent in all the documents to the decision makers. Hurrah! Now I am playing the waiting game, hoping that they give me official approval. So exciting! Fingers and toes crossed!

Did you know that I will be departing in 65 days?! Gulp. Time needs to sloooowwww down! I have created a MASTER "To Do" list that is as long as the KM's of this upcoming cross-Canada journey, but I am ready to tackle it.  It's a full on wrestling match over here....maybe even UFC?! Haha.

I have also managed to have some fun times with friends and family in between all this ca-razy Pepsi stuff. 
See some of my favourite pics below....

Happy times! I am a real lucky girl!

Have a b-e-a-utiful weekend. Check back for updates soon!

Happy trails & travels,
-- Becky xoxo