advice

Welcome🍃To December❄: Please Rid Yourself Of Unnecessary😟 Stress…..

~ dawnlovely ~ Leave a comment

This goes out to all of the folks who celebrate or acknowledge Christmas and the holiday season. If you can not afford to deck your house with boughs of holly, don’t worry. If you can not access the Christmas merchandise that you would usually purchase, don’t worry. Please don’t worry about what you can not afford to buy at this time. Please don’t worry about keeping up with your usual start of December routine.

First off, majority of stores province wide do not consider Christmas decorations “essential needs” and those stores/sections in the store, have been yellow taped! You are not allowed to buy those things, in some of these stores, minus a handful of the franchise stores that you ARE allowed to. As a matter of fact, you can buy pretty much ANYTHING in those stores. The local and provincial news has been covering stories about “small business owners” speaking out about the unfair double standard. I have been following these stories religiously, and all of this blows me away.

I felt compelled to stop and take a photo of this local “non-essential” business in my neighborhood the other night. I don’t why, but something about this shop, closed down, abandoned , shutdown , yet still well lit. It truly touched my spirit…

It’s all beginning to feel like we’re trapped in a dark comedy movie. I truly feel that way. Day to day we are forced to watch the daily news, waiting for an insufferable press conference, for new updates.

The other day my friend texted saying that she’s really been feeling down, before I could respond, she said she felt bad for not being able to start putting up Xmas decorations. I had to tell her to not be too hard on herself, but allow her feelings to come through. I also reminded her that the second shutdown has thrown all of us OFF. Even me, who honestly saw it coming a mile away.

In the meantime, please do yourself not be hard on yourself, don’t add to the stress that by default, has being inflicted on us. Try to look out for your friends and family, especially the ones who are hip to the game.

I’ll leave it at that for now. Have a good night.

Take Care, Stay safe, and Stay tuned.

Love and Respect,

~Dawn Lovely

In The Meantime:🙄Prepare To💝 Share&👀Look Out…..

~ dawnlovely ~ Leave a comment

I’ve been working on this blog for about a week, before my birthday that just passed on November 15th. I intended on posting some of my thoughts, but I was busy and my heart was too heavy on that day. So I will share about the significance of my 2020 birthday in another blog.

Let’s go back in time to before that week…..

“Have a good night buddy! And stay warm!”, I heard a dude tell another dude as I turned the corner to go home. They were sitting outside eating at the restaurant on the corner, the one with the lovely fire lamps. Hearing those words bothered me, because we had just come out of a 20 degree weather week! The unseasonably warm weather has reverted back to regular autumn weather. So now we’re in that borderline “winter-ish” part of autumn, the anticipation of real winter is kicking in. NOT Good. Folks are literally being left out OUT IN THE COLD. No more indoor dining allowed, and awkward lines on the streets again. More businesses closing, and the open ones have twice the restrictions. I was pleasantly surprised to see the larger local gym open last night, with a sprinkle of people in it. Now the second lock down has been announced, and it’s confirmed, for Monday.

There’s no more time to figure out what we should all already know. Conspiracy theories aside, as I’ve said before, a lot about this situation doesn’t make sense. My heart hurts for the locals who have been forced to shut down, yet again. They were following the rules perfectly and so were we. As annoying as this all has been since March, I felt more of a connection in the community since the first shutdown. People going out of their way to respect each other’s space, as much as possible, doubly distancing. Now, (allegedly) over one hundred restaurants have been forced to close, and it’s not even December. We are all shaking our heads and asking questions, while complying.

Last week, a gentleman and I had a five minute conversation, debating if we should go inside the restaurant and who should go first. As I saw him approach the door, I let him go first, but he stopped and told me to go first. There was about a line of five people inside and I thought that was way too many. I didn’t want to risk getting kicked out by an employee, so I decided to wait outside. I was not in a rush. As I waited outside the door, customers quickly exited, so the wait wasn’t that long. That same gentleman spoke kindly and made a few jokes with the employees behind the glass. He even made a joke about him being an “old man” and them being young, and not to worry about rushing his order. We all agreed that he was not at all an “old man”, and he chuckled and said, “That’s a good thing” about the mask. It hides my face/my age!

His lighthearted attitude was much appreciated. He was sure to Thank the employees, and even Thanked me, for allowing him to go first in the door. A little thing, simply Torontonian manners, but for some reason it meant more.

That was just a week or so ago, but now things have changed drastically…..again. We had our first major snow fall, one day after the second major shutdown was announced. I will continue in another blog.

Take Care, Stay safe, and Stay tuned.

Love and Respect,

~Dawn Lovely

Just Some Thoughts 🤔: It Just Doesn’t Make Sense 🔐⬇🚫❓…..

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A few weeks back…There was a dude sitting by himself drinking a beer, on a chilly, windy autumn night. He looked as out of place, as the tables that were set up in the road. It just doesn’t make sense, beyond the new rules, public drinking is against the law. That’s probably why it looks so odd to me, to see a person drinking a beer in the road. This is a sight that a year ago would be unheard of. Patrons are no more “social distanced” than they would be, if they were sitting inside the little bar. It just doesn’t make sense.

The waitstaff are forced to walk outside, in weather that’s a few degrees above zero, wiggling around the patrons AND pedestrians. It just doesn’t make sense. The chefs are wearing a mask for the majority of their shift, while slaving over an open fire. I can’t help but feel for them, I have worked in a tiny restaurant that was hot as hell before. I couldn’t imagine not being able to properly breathe through my mouth AND nose for 8 hours in the heat. It just doesn’t make sense.

So, the approved inside dining with extra restrictions, went back into affect, the day before yesterday, I think…I’m not quite sure, because overnight the rules have changed AGAIN. Apparently, we’re now in the new stage of “Red rules/restrictions”. Winter has not officially hit us, and we are already being fed some very bad news. The threat of another full lock down looms over us, and this time it’s even more confusing and weird. I understand that there is a lot of censorship being enforced all over the world wide web, so I am choosing to choose my words wisely.

I value this area for sentimental reasons, it’s a part of my childhood that nothing, and nobody can sully. The local pizza shop has not been open since the start of the shutdown and it’s very sad. I’m not a big pizza eater, but I liked their pizza, and amazing service with a personal touch. You could call them even 15 minutes to closing, and the owner would still take your order. It saddens me that the folks who make this neighborhood special, have to close down for good. Everything that they built, pretty much over, and in a matter of months.

The confusion and contradictory rules are the worst part. Even the mainstream news titles their stories, emphasizing this.

It all doesn’t make sense, but yet and still I follow the rules, follow protocol, and do my best to stay as healthy as possible. I have more to say, but I’ll save it for another post.

Take Care, Stay safe, and Stay tuned.

Love and Respect,

~Dawn Lovely

Just Some Thoughts 🤔: Just Seems A Little Off /☀/🏇🏿/❓….

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The temperatures have shot up out of the blue, a pleasant surprise, but feels very unnatural. It seems a little off to me.

I had to take a double look and refresh my browser when I saw the weekly forecast. I was ready for the temperature to drop below zero within the next few weeks. Then again, I’ve learn to expect the unexpected in these strange times. The weather has BEEN tampered with, and this ain’t no conspiracy. If you grew up in Canada, and are over twenty, you would’ve definitely noticed the drastic change in the seasons. Mother earth is not well, and we all know why.

I tried to catch some of that warmth and sunlight, but by the time I reached outside 4:30ish, it was already dark. Did the sun go down a little earlier than usual? The streets were very active, many people dining out, trying to enjoy the warm fall evening. The sound of latin jazz bumping out of the local open-front, very well-lit restaurant. It looked and felt like a regular warm summer night! Folks sitting outside, many without masks. Talking, laughing, looking very happy, very “pre-covid19”. The vibe was nice, I almost forgot about the government restrictions. I almost daydreamed my way into a new reality…The old norm.

On my brisk walk home after completing my errands, I was very relaxed, and content. As I calmly walked home enyoying the warmth and chill vibes, I was completely caught off guard. I winced in the dark, thinking maybe my eyes were deceiving me. I saw a tall dark figure in the road, beside the curb, moving in my direction. As I moved closer, I realized it was a horse! An RCMP officer on a horse, Ooooh Okay! I’ve seen these officers many a time, just not in this side of the city, especially after dark. It was very out-of-place, and I thought something must be wrong. They usually only come out to help monitor crowds, large gatherings, like the “Caribana Festival”. My discernment told me perhaps they are preparing for something, for it was the day of USA elections….I dunno, it was just weird. So of course I quickly and awkwardly positioned my phone, and snapped a pic.

Lately I’ve been doing well, but some things in the outside world just seem a little off…

For now, that’s all I have to say. Have a productive day!

Take Care, Stay safe, and Stay tuned.

Love and Respect,

~Dawn Lovely

That ☀ Sunset on 🌇 Nov 3rd…..

~ dawnlovely ~ Leave a comment

This afternoon around the time of sunset, the sky looked extra beautiful, almost breathtaking. I stopped, just to gaze at it, as I waited at the stoplight. I thought to myself:

Why does the sky look so beautiful? More beautiful than it has in a long time? Maybe I’ve been missing this time of day, because I’m usually working, cooped up inside…I feel as though this is one of the last times I’ll ever see a sky like this. I gotta take a picture, but the sun is kinda in my eyes. I need a head better angle, a head on shot. I’ll just cross the street to the middle sidewalk stoplight, above the bridge. Oh damn! There’s already a dude there, And he’s taking photos too! How annoying! I guess I’ll stay over here and make due….That light better not change!

I awkwardly positioned my phone to take a photo, and I tried my very best, to get a proper shot. I awkwardly positioned my camera, hoping the light wouldn’t turn green. An elderly man was walking towards me, and I tried not to get him in the shot, I’m always cautious not to point cell phone directly at unsuspecting pedestrians. He looked directly at me, I could see he was wondering what I was doing, because of the manner in which I was moving. I was moving quickly, desperate to accomplish my task!

Here’s the photo…

It doesn’t depict the sunset the way I saw it, but I love the glow.

Have a safe and productive day:)

Take Care, Stay safe, and Stay tuned.

Love and Respect,

~Dawn Lovely


Follow me@:https://twitter.com/iamdawnlovely, https://t.co/wfctLWHJ1W

Welcome To November…⏳🍁🍃❄🙃🎂

~ dawnlovely ~ 2 Comments

As I walked down the social distanced streets, I was relieved that the weather was bearable. The fall-like air was very cool, but gentle, and I enjoyed my walk as I completed my errands. My heart slightly fluttered as I took in the lovely endearing fall scenery around. Store fronts with pumpkins and produce on display outside, that will soon be put away. I love the look and vibe of this neighborhood during autumn, it’s one of the small joys that has helped me get through these times.

Welcome to November. Whew! I made it through, WE made it through! I can’t believe it’s already November, October seemed to fly by, as stressful as it was at times. I am genuinely happy that it is November, and that it’s still “technically” autumn. I have seen light rain-like snow a few days in a row, and I wasn’t happy! I hope fall remains until at least the end if the month! It’s my birthday month, and that would be the greatest birthday gift this year for me.

That same ole cloud-of-confusion hovers over our heads, we watch the news, and wait for updates. The daily updates of the new and revised “rules”, and instructions/orders are confusing. The Halloween “trick-or treating” rules confused the heck out of me, and it was excruciating watching the news conference about it. The questions that callers asked were very logical, but the responses given….were not. I’ll leave it at that.

Last night, I stopped to take a pic of a local fruit market as the wind started up, and sleet-like snow started coming down. My hands were cold, and I tried my best to capture how lovely the glowing shop looked to me. The fruit displayed, the colours, are difficult to see in the shot.

I gotta go now, I’m trying to catch up on some sleep before I start my day.

Take Care, Stay safe, and Stay tuned.

Love and Respect,

~Dawn Lovely

In The Meantime:🥑Simplify🍚…..

~ dawnlovely ~ Leave a comment

The other day on my half hour lunch break, I quickly cut an avocado and paired it with a little rice. I was VERY hungry, and a snack just wasn’t cuttin’ it. A little goes a long way, and this meal hit the spot! Avocados are one of my favourite fruits, and they are extremely underrated. I suggest you add them to your weekly meals if you have access to them.

While I’m working, sometimes it feels as though ONE hour, counts as DOUBLE for my stomach. When my stomach starts to growl, it sounds extra loud like a lion! It sounds as though I haven’t eaten in days, and I’m embarrassed! I’ve even thought that a customer can actually hear my stomach…through the phone! Hunger ain’t no joke.

I could not imagine not having access to an avocado ever again, because of a food shortage, or shutdown of the border. If by chance it does get to that point, many of us will have to cut back on certain foods, and learn to cut back on unnecessary large portion sizes. I’ve seen this on the news, being promoted currently at restaurants in other countries, you can do the research.

I remember last year posting a blog about the fall of Venezuela, the economic break down, after watching an interesting and informative documentary on YouTube. That blog didn’t get much traction, it was very short, and not detailed, BUT my point was very clear. The horror of what I witnessed, seeing all local stores have ZERO supply of the BASICS, shook me to the core. People were unable to access these items, and in no time these items became inaccessible. I felt it was necessary to say something about it, and I didn’t think my post would be perceived as “negative”. I pretty much stated:

The basics that we tend to take for granted, be sure to appreciate them. There may come a time when you don’t have access to those needs and they will become luxuries. Growing up in a country, with an abundance of food, access to clean running water, and indoor plumbing/heating is a privilege that I don’t take for granted.

The documentary showed footage of folks waiting for food in an outside camp-like setting. I’m not quite sure what it was called, but families were sitting outside at picnic tables. They interviewed a young mother who explained that she would not be able to give her child any milk for the week, had she not received this help. Heartbreaking to witness, but I have been a child of a similar circumstance, which I’ve shared in past posts.

I can’t say enough about this topic. I have so much more to share on this topic, but I’ll save it for another post. Count your blessings, and have a productive day.

Take Care, Stay safe, and Stay tuned.

Love and Respect,

~Dawn Lovely

Getting By😟VS Enjoying Life😊🎉…..

~ dawnlovely ~ 2 Comments

On a warmer night, I stopped to take a picture of this lovely, cozy, outside restaurant seating. This is the first evening, I have seen these seats empty. The beautiful lamp caught my eye, and it warmed my heart. This was before the “revised rules” were implemented, and folks chose to sit outside. As summer ended, it was nice to see folks enjoying the warmer weather, that was surely on it’s way out.

Spending my money weekly, eating out, having my dinner cooked by a stranger, but with a beautiful ambience, is not worth the money, to me. I consider it more of a treat, not an everyday thing, but I see it’s the norm for a lot of folks around here. Granted, this is an area popular for it’s restaurants.
I’d rather prepare my own food and create a beautiful ambience at home. All you really need is nice lighting and candles, to create that cozy mood. The temperature is slowly dropping, and It’s easy to pull off, and you decide what works for your budget.

I have learned a very valuable life lesson observing this neighborhood since the shutdown. Although a cloudy question mark looms over all of us, folks seem genuinely content. The majority of the population didn’t seem unhappy while adjusting to the changes. For the most part, folks were extremely polite in the stores and in the mile long social distanced-spaced lines.

After the first restrictions were lifted in the summer, folks looked very happy to finally be free to enjoy the sunshine and spend their money in the neighborhood.
The neighborhood felt energetic, and full of enjoyment.
It almost felt as though the virus didn’t exist, minus the masks, and gaps between us.

I noticed the difference in the sense of priorities, compared to mine. I was very happy that I survived, and got by to make it to the summer. I was simply happy to have some food stocked up, to have my basic needs met and to be able to be there for my family/friends.

I did not feel that much different than I did in March, except a little more blessed. Getting by was enough for me to feel happy and enjoy what I have. I have more to say on this topic but I’ll continue in my next post.
Have a safe and productive day:)


Take Care, Stay safe, and Stay tuned.


Love and Respect,


~Dawn Lovely


Follow me@:https://twitter.com/iamdawnlovely, https://t.co/wfctLWHJ1W

My Social Conscience & 🏪💅🏽😷 Businesses Holding On💵….

~ dawnlovely ~ 1 Comment

I finally treated myself to a manicure and pedicure, and I actually felt guilty for it. I figured, “they” are probably going to completely shut down ALL nail salons VERY soon, so I might as well go ahead and get one. I haven’t treated myself to this type of pampering for a year, and once covid hit, it wasn’t on the top of my list of priorities. I was trying to preserve my money, and prioritize. I practically had just arrived to this area to stay, still settling and budgeting. I’ve always been a do-it-yourself type of gal, and I take care of my feet, but there’s nothing like a professional mani and pedi. It’s one of the little, and only luxuries that I give myself.

I had never visited this nail salon before, and the employees could not see my face, and I could not see theirs. I like to properly introduce myself when I enter a new business, it’s only proper etiquette. I also want the employees to get to know me, a little at least, so we are familiar with one another. It was super weird having us all completely masked up and anonymous.

I was very uneasy as the esthetician worked on my feet, seeing her wearing that heavy plastic face shield, and a mask underneath. It looked like waaay too much, plus the plastic barrier between us, seemed unneeded and unnecessary. While I was masked up, and trying to relax and enjoy the chair massage, it was hard to breathe. I told myself to relax, so I wasn’t tense, but my thoughts were running everywhere. It is not healthy or normal to breathe in the air you exhale for hours and hours at a time. We all know this, however collectively we are not questioning it.

I have been fortunate so far because I work from home, so I’m not masked up outside for eight hour shifts. While the esthethitian looked geared up as though she’s about to exterminate termites, it made me feel claustrophobic. I didn’t feel good about that. I did not see her pull down her mask not ONCE while doing my pedicure or manicure. I found that crazy, and very unsafe. I actually felt awkward pulling up my medical mask to take a few gulps of water, and that was the only time my mask came off my face.

As she finished up my manicure, I thanked her again, as I did a few times during her work. Although I am paying for a service, I appreciate when I am given Great service, plus a positive attitude. I gave her a very good tip, while thinking, this may be the last week this business is open.

Money can not make up for the energy and effort it takes to maintain Covid-19 regulations, on top providing next to perfect service. I feel empathy on a different level for these service providers, the threat of closing looms over their heads as winter approaches.
I am not of the “mid-town” lifestyle, although I grew up at one point in this area. For some, their family owned business is ALL they know, and they have lived here for generations.

I feel as though I am a silent spectator in all of this, but I am learning one of the most important lessons of my life. My conscience bothers me the most, because I know overnight poverty and struggle is not the norm for the demographic around here. I can pretty much adjust to most difficult situations. The life that the cards the Lord has dealt me, has helped me be able to do that.

Watching slowly as businesses hold on for dear life, businesses that have been the fabric of the city, landmarks of this part of the city, truly bothers me.
I trust my gut, my spirit, and I know none of this adds up. It just doesn’t, and I have only scratched the surface.

My mani/ pedi turned out lovely, by the way. I do not know the next time I will be able to get one, so for that I am truly Thankful.

Take Care, Stay safe, and Stay tuned.

Love and Respect,

~Dawn Lovely



Follow me@:https://twitter.com/iamdawnlovely, https://t.co/wfctLWHJ1W

Just Some Thoughts🤔:🎃The Second 😷🛒Wave…..

~ dawnlovely ~ 4 Comments

Last night at the grocery store the shelves were well-stocked with Halloween candy, yet all bleach products were sold out. Then it hit me, Oh yeah! It’s the second wave!! We’re officially in the second wave phase. Folks are doubly stocking up on basic essentials, and I don’t blame them!
The specific product that I was looking for was not in stock, and nothing similar was either. I felt slightly frustrated, seeing rows and rows of aisles filled with candy, but no product similar to what I needed.
The extra large red boxes, the candy bar multi-packs, those boxes I used to love seeing, really annoyed me!
The second wave of shopping confusion begins and I have been slowly stocking up throughout the months.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to fully prepare. There are new updates on where the rules and restrictions are headed everyday.


That same aura of confusion I felt in March, has been re-released in the air. Price gouging and ridiculous mark ups in stores, A regular bottle of 70 percent rubbing alcohol for $7.99. My bottle from early March, is just about to run out. It’s one of the only products I didn’t stock up on over the months. It’s no big deal though. I am mentally prepared for the cold season chaos. The mainstream news is definitely dropping hints to prepare, for the next phase of rules and restrictions. I saw that coming.

I recently watched an anti-mask protest on YouTube in downtown Toronto that I knew nothing about. Folks of a wide age range, racial backgrounds, and social classes, from around the city stood together. It blew me away to see a united front on this topic from such a diverse group. We are very, very diverse here in Toronto, but this protest was different.
I heard folks describe their common fears of what’s to come, RE government control, and the folks who stood on the other side of the street were not pleased. They feel as though this behavior is incredibly dangerous and irresponsible. I understand both sides standing their ground.


In the meantime, I continue to support my local shops and I appreciate all of their efforts. They have been brave and strong while dealing with their patrons, risking their health in small spaces. They have changed their hours a few times, abiding by government rules. They have been consistent with their quality and friendly service, maintaining honest communication with their customers. The photo I included is off some produce that I purchased the other day from my favourite local fruit market. The cost was only $6.00 in total! That is amazing for the amount and quality. It is just as good as the local franchise grocery stores, maybe even better.

Please keep in mind that many local retail shops, fruit markets, convenience stores, bodega’s have managed to maintain and serve us. They have managed to keep those products coming from across the border and over seas. Many of these stores are in danger of closing for good, because of major retail chains making private deals, and being granted special privileges. For example, “regular” business hours are okay for them, but not for the so-called “little guys”.
I will definitely dive deeper into this topic in another blog.


I must admit that I have not been sleeping properly on schedule the way that I should be. I feel off balance, and
that’s my fault. Anticipating what’s to come has been getting to me. I’ve allowed it to affect my sleep, so
I’ll be settling in earlier tonight and going to sleep. Have a good night:)


Take Care, Stay safe, and Stay tuned.


Love and Respect,

~Dawn Lovely