I had an amazing dream last night.

So in my dream, I was at the Rogers Centre, and there were 50,000 screaming people all lit up individually, a massive cat-walk, insanely loud music, and the worlds biggest pop star strutting the stage. 

Oh... Wait... Oh- nope. That was real. 

OMG YOU GUYS.

Last night Luc and I went to Taylor Swift's 1989 World Tour Concert at the Rogers Centre (aka The SkyDome) and it was the coolest thing EVER! I didn't originally have tickets, but I knew no matter what I HAD to see this show. I've been following it on Instagram since May. There was no way I was going to be in the same city Taylor Swift and NOT be there.  

Tay Tay and I, we go way back. I remember getting her first self-titled album when I was fourteen as a gift from my cousin. I was so pumped that this young singer had blonde curly hair like me!.. I know that's weird, but I hated my hair. Like, I was straightening it every day with an iron and an oven mitt... So it was kind of refreshing. I listened to the album on repeat 24/7, and fell in love with the stories she told through song. Since then, I've been an avid Taylor Swift fan. I can tell you where she grew up, her parents names, her cats names, and probably list every song in order of release dates.... In a non-stalkerish kind way...

ANYWAY. The concert.

There were fireworks, there were dancers, there was a revolving runway, a surprise guest; Basically the perfect recipe for a perfectly spent Saturday night. 

We were in Section 510, Row 18; Pretty far back, but it didn't matter! The stage ran out into the crowd so far that there was no bad seat in the stadium. Our home boy, Shawn Mendes, was the first opener, and then Mr. Australia 2013, Vance Joy (**fact check on Mr. Australia 2013**) played after him. MAN, those boys can sing! It was freakin' awesome. 

There was a little break between Joy's set and Taylor's opening song. The house lights were up with 80's music quietly playing in the background to break the tension of 50,000 impatient fans. Suddenly, the 80's music started getting louder. Then, the stadium went black. You could hear faint sounds slowly creeping in; Honks, beeps, the hustle and bustle of a city. Men in sunglasses looked like they were appearing from a subway station as they floated up a staircase from under the stage. All of a sudden- There she was. I didn't know if someone was holding up a million static radios to my ear or if it was seriously the screams from the crowd. It was like nothing I've ever heard! The night had officially begun.

The night was so non-stop-unbelievably epic. 1989 is just amazing, so go listen to it if you haven't already. It's lyrically insane and melodically brilliant. Luc and I were singing along with every song at the top of our lungs. Her outfits were just- ugh- amazing. Like, gimmie ur closet girl. She got us all at the edge of our seats when she announced: "If you keep up this screaming and excitement, Shawn Mendes, Vance Joy, and myself might not be the last artists you see on this stage tonight".....

AH! We all died as a cohesive group. 

The surprise guest was Charli XCX. I knew the song "BOOOM CLAP, SOUND OF MY HEART, THE BEAT GOES ON AND ON AND ON AND ONNNNNN", but I didn't know the name right away! I seriously thought she was going to say Beyonce.. That was just wishful thinking. But Charlie XCX was great fun. I did some 'wikipeding' and didn't realize she's the girl who sings with Iggy Azalea in Fancy! Cool!

One of the highlights was Taylor playing a couple songs acoustically on the raised runway. She played "Fifteen" from her Fearless Album (which won Grammy of the Year), and that's when the waterworks started to flow. It really hit me that I was seeing one of my idols in that moment. I was trying to soak it all up for every ounce of its worth (which is probably like $8093452398467234 dollars)!!!

My favourite part- weirdly enough- was a remake of "We Are Never Getting Back Together". I wasn't the biggest fan of her last album, "Red". It was just too in between genres for me. But this time they played it was literally electrifying!! It had the coolest rock edge to it, and while she was jamming on her electric guitar, she was screaming at us to yell "HEY"! Which we obviously did... She could have told us to give the person next to us a head massage and we all would have complied.

The night ended with the ultimate dance tune. Shake It Off. And believe me, we were shakin' it. All 50,000 of us. It was impossible not to. The light show was outrageous, the beat was 'sick', and the stage was revolving around like a frisbee! It was MEASWATINGOI!!! (Majorly-Epic-And-So-Wickedly-Awesome-That-I'll-Never-Get-Over-It!)

I don't care if you hate Taylor Swift, or think she can't sing, or think she's stuck up. She can perform. Like no one I've ever seen. She has IT, man. She had the crowd wrapped around her finger the whole time, and was running around for an hour and 1/2 while belting songs that she wrote. Her speeches were super down to earth, and it just made me appreciate her as a person that much more. 

So, in conclusion, my #wcw (Woman crush Wednesday) for this week, and the next, and the next, will be Taylor Swift. I also give this concert 1,989 stars out of 10. You did good, Tay Tay. You did good. Now, excuse me while I go sing into my hairbrush. 

xo,

Jess ​

Where do I even begin???

It's been quite some time since I've updated Portage Road Diaries (which is kind of hilarious seeing as I've been living on Portage Road). Now, I’m back in the big city and getting my butt in gear! 

These past few months have been an absolute whirlwin of adventures and excitement. I'm specifically talking about my job, which I still can't believe counts as "work" seeing as it was the MOST fun. So, I thought I'd give a little update about what it was like working as "Anne with an E" this summer in the hub of everything Green Gables, PEI!

A little history on this show is much needed. Every kid that grows up on PEI knows the story of Anne of Green Gables. We learn about the author, Lucy Maud, we read the books in school, and we even have Anne's little face on our license plates. As kids, we don't understand the global impact this book has had on society. We take our "red dirt roads" for granted, we see farms in every direction, and we probably haven't seen "That Musical in town" for at least 10 years.  Well, not only is "That Musical" completely Canadian (music, lyrics, book, choreography), but it's also been playing on the same stage for fifty-one years. What's that? You think you read that wrong? No, no. You read it right. FIFTY. ONE. YEARS!! Probably 85% of musical theatre performers in Canada can say they have performed in Anne of Green Gables at the Charlottetown Festival. It's almost like a right of passage into the business!

Growing up on the Island, I saw the show approximately 1209379385 times. I was constantly mesmerized by the magic on stage. Specifically by the spunky little girl with red braids and freckles. Her zest for life, her distinguished language, and her incomparable outburst were just a few things that made me fall in love with Anne and the show. 

My Grammie use to clean the Theatre at the Confederation Centre, and a girl named Gracie Finley worked as an usher. Gracie said to my Grammie, "I'm going to be Anne someday." And low and behold, she went on to be the very 1st Islander to play Anne Shirley. I loved when my Grammie would tell me that story. When I was around 11 years old, I started measuring myself to make sure I wasn't growing. I knew that if I got too tall, I wouldn't be able to be Anne, like Gracie!  

Okay, I seriously need to commend every single girl in the past who has ever played Anne. You really don't realize what a true marathon it is until you have to pee in Act 2 and learn (the hard way) that there isn't a single moment for a pee break. Every Anne I've seen made it look so effortless and easy, so BRAVA!

The first day of rehearsal, I had more energy than a Durecell bunny (x10). I showed up to the Meet and Greet all giddy and gay, only to find a completely empty room. Low and behold, I showed up AN HOUR TOO EARLY. So naturally I laughed it off and bought a coffee to shoot me into energetic oblivion. We did a read through, and I started weeping as soon as our MD (music director) Bob played the first note in the Overture. I think I used a whole box of Kleenex. Katie Kerr, of course, caught that on camera: 

After the first read through, the crying didn’t really stop.... So I compiled a list of "The Things That Made Me Cry During The Anne Process". Here it is :

First read through

• Leaving the first read through
• Practicing lines at home
• First sing-through
• First run-through
• Putting on the Anne braids
• Hank Stinson (Matthew)
• Charlotte Moore (Marilla)
• Seeing the set
• Sitzprobe
• First Preview
• Second Preview
• Opening night
• Hugging my mom
• Hugging my dad
• Curtain Call
• Sitting
• Standing
• Breathing
• Eating
• Talking
• Laughing
• Singing
• Sleeping
• And everything in between

I was an emotional wreck, in the best possible way. The show itself could make Kristen Stewart shed a tear, so that was part of it. The other part was just how surreal it all felt. I felt like I wanted my Mom and Dad to be in the rehearsal room with me so I could shout “Look Mommy! I’m on the buggy!” or “Look Daddy! I have green hair!” I seriously felt like little Jessica was out and about, and every time I let my 22 year old self out, I would (as Oprah says) UGLY cry!  

The summer was as magical as I anticipated it would be. Sharing this experience with my family was by far the best part. I'll never forget seeing my little sister in the 2nd row on opening night wiping her tears away, or hugging my mom in the lobby after the first preview. 

The cast and creative team was a dream. We had people from all corners of Canada, and their kindness and exuberance was contagious. I've been so lucky to work at home, where I'm surrounded by my family every single day. But in theatre you pack your bags - a lot - mostly to find yourself in a city that you've never seen, where you don't know a soul. It's not easy, but I think every person in the cast this year found a piece of home on the Island. Everyone was just so lovely, and there were incredible friendships formed that I think will last a lifetime.

** I just remembered this and wanted to put it in here so I won't forget it happened. ** One night, I accidentally flung a rubber frog into an audience members face. Yes, right into her face. I wanted to stop the show and say, "Wow, I am so sorry. That frog is probably 50 years old, and you probably already had dinner". But instead I had a laugh attack in my head and continued the show. I also sweat like a pig every show. I've always been a sweaty person. Like, in gym class when we would do the beep test, or even play dodge ball, I would look like this:  

That hasn't changed.
I think I scared some children. They probably thought Anne was melting like the Wicked Witch in the Wizard of Oz. "I'M MELTING! AHH! DIANA HELP MEEEE!"

I could honestly go on about the summer forever. It's nice for me to write it out, because when people ask "How was your summer?!", it's so hard to put it into words. The Confederation Centre and this show are so important to me because it's where I found my passion. That is what the Confed Centre is all about; Inspiring youth and getting them involved in the arts. That's why I don't mind talking about my experience, and yelling to the world that my dream came true. I didn't know that I could have a career singing and dancing (WHAT!?) UNTIL I went to the Confederation Centre. We need places like the this to encourage young people to sing, and paint, and dance, and write, and draw, and express themselves in any other way than through a Facebook status.

Thank you so much to everyone who came to see the show this summer. It was so special to see old and new familiar faces in the audience! It was a life changing experience with so many learning curbs and discoveries, and I'm happy I got to share a little piece of it with you on Portage Road Diaries :)

xoxo,
Jess

Spring has sprung! Okay.. Maybe not 100%, but slow and steady wins the race... (Does anyone actually believe that saying)?..  

Let me tell you, something I took for granted for a LONG time on PEI was having a car. I didn't realize until I moved to Ontario how ANNOYING public transit can be. Don't get me wrong- I'm totally grateful that I don't have to walk eight hours to get to the city. But dealing with stinky street cars, late buses, pocket change, crowded GO trains, and carrying 100 pounds of groceries can get on your last nerve. Looking at a bus/train schedule for the first time is comparable to someone shoving you into an operating room and forcing you to perform heart surgery. You just don't get it. But when you finally get the gist of it, it's not so bad. 

I live about 45 minutes from downtown Toronto, and I like it that way. You can take the girl out of Portage Road, but you can't take Portage Road out of the girl. I prefer a less busy setting. And trees. Trees are nice. I find myself making super short trips into Toronto here and there for different reasons. At this point, I've basically got it down to a science. I don't need to check bus times, train times, or street car times anymore, and I've also learned (the hard way) what I should plan to carry around all day. Believe me, you think it's common sense, but if you're spending a day running around the city and don't think about what you're taking with you, your dead meat. So, here are some things that make my transit trips quite tolerable. 

My tote isn't your typical tote. It's actually a Mary Kay "starter's kit"... Lawl. My mom tried to make me sell Mary Kay Makeup and I just couldn't do it. What I DID do was keep all the free makeup, hand lotion, and foot scrub that came with it! Hehe. This bag is the the perfect size for my trips to the city. I've always been a shoulder strap gal, but I'm falling in love with bags that just sit in the cuff of my elbow. It has lots of different pockets since technically you're suppose to carry makeup and all that jazz, but I can slip my laptop, books, shoes, and wallet in with room to spare! It also has cute light pink straps and is pretty darn chic lookin'. Warning: I finally understand the purpose of iPads. Those laptops can get pretty heavy during the day! Also- be careful with carrying kitbags (backpacks, in Ontario terms). Not only will they kill your back after a couple hours, but I also got yelled at for hitting people on the subway with mine... You live and you learn! Oops... 

I usually have to catch an early bus/train, so I'll take my makeup with me so I can hit the snooze button a couple extra times (hehe). I got this super cute makeup case at Forever 21 for $12! My old makeup case was like.. 4 years old and just plain NASTAAY! This case has a handle, and I can actually close the zipper without my blush brush sticking out the side... Success!! 

My fav lip balm is Burt's. Obvi. A) It's pink, B) It smells like heaven in a tube, C) It's 100% natural. I've had this stick for almost a year now. I get really dry lips in these gosh-darn-Canadian-Winters, so I always have it sitting in my jacket pocket. Sitting right next to it will be my Quo Double Dip Lip Gloss. This stuff is awesome. It gives you a liiiiittle touch of color and makes your lips "shine like the top of the Chrysler Building"! (Annie: The Musical quote)  

Commuting = Reading time. There's no wifi on the trains, and I try not to kill every ounce of data on my cell. SO, you need a good book. I just finished reading "Where'd You Go, Bernadette", and it was SUCH a great read. My first thought was, "Omg, this needs to be a movie." Of course I come home and my bf/bf (best friend/boyfriend) notifies me that they JUST announced that Robert Linklater (Boyhood) might be directing an adaptation! YES!

I HATE winter. I'm sorry. I've tried my darnedest to enjoy it, but it's just too fridged and gross. One thing I can't STAND is how my boots get salt stains on them. You're suppose to buy this $30.00 stuff and clean them every time you're out in the snow, but WHO GOT TIME FO DAT?! So, I like to slip a pair of heels in my tote so I can swap them out for my nasty, wet boots. Make sure you bring a plastic bags to put them in, or else everything will get soggy. And nobody likes soggy. Soggy bread? Ew. Soggy bathing suit? Ew. Soggy laptop/makeup/book? Triple Ew. I got these cute lil heels on sale at Nine West, regular $110 for $50!! Also- I went to Goodwill (thanks Lily) for the first time in my life and found a Nine West navy pair of heels in perfect condition for $10!?! WAH!

My mom noticed a certain pattern in my life. It seems that every time she tries to call, my phone battery is either dead, or close to dying. Like a Supermom, she found this awesome solution for me. It's called the Duracell Portable Power Bank. All you have to do is charge it, slip it in your purse, and "plug it in, plug it in." It has saved my butt so many times since I started using it.

What are your quick-trip travel essentials? I totally forgot my reusable water bottle, shame on me. Gotta keep yourself hydrated, and it's better than adding to the disgusting amount of plastic water bottles polluting the earth as we speak! We're almost there guys, Winter is almost over. Here's to Summer being just around the corner! (Too soon)????

My Playlist writing this week's post:
▸ Chelsea Morning - Joni Mitchell 
▸ Believe - Mumford and Sons
▸ Consequence Free - Great Big Sea
▸ You Were Mine - Dixie Chicks
▸ One Last Time - Ariana Grande

Check out my series, "Singing in the Shower With Jess" for a mashup of Taylor Swift's "Style" and Nick Jonas's "Jealous"! Click here to watch! 

Lots of Love xo, 

Jess

**Not gonna lie... I was going to post this last week but MAJORLY chickened out.** 

It's been almost four years since I've played an official soccer game. Wow. I've never actually wrote that out before. WOW. This post is therapy for me, more than anything. So forgive me if I ramble. 

For those of you who don't know, soccer was a MASSIVE part of my life growing up. And when I say massive, I mean massive. Like, waking up at 4:30am to get to practice, go to school for 8am, another practice after school, then a game in the evening- Repeat that, only add fitness sessions on weekends. 

My parents signed me up for soccer tryouts when I was at the ripe age of eleven. I showed up with no shin guards, a rusty pair of velcro sneakers, and a familiar pony tail that I sported everyday at school. This audition- I mean- try out (actors, ugh) was to divide the girls into the "Premier" league (aka the good players) and the "First-Division" league (the not so good players). We started the practice with a "suicide run" (sort of like a beep test), and I was hooked. That week, I got the call that I made the "First-Division" team. I was so excited! I couldn't believe I was going to be on an actual soccer team!

The next year, I was determined to make the Premier league. I literally became obsessed. My wardrobe consisted of only soccer shorts and baggy t-shirts, I made weekly trips to "The Soccer Stop" on Queen Street, and would practice in my yard every single day (or when it was winter, in the basement). The time came for the Under 12 auditio- GAH!- TRY OUTS, and I was as focused as a beaver building a damn... (Which I would think takes a lot of focus, right??)... I remember my coach specifically pointing out how great my 'first touch' was along with my 'passing precision'... I had no idea what she was talking about. 

This was the beginning of a crazy adventure. I made the Premier team, and moved into what would be my future home: centre midfield. Our team, The Sherwood Parkdale Rangers, went on to win the gold medal that year. The last moment of a soccer match- when the ref blows the whistle not once, but twice- is so epic. Especially when it's for the championship. You're in the midst of running your tail off, and out of nowhere the whistle sounds. Did the ball go out of bounds? Was there a hand ball? Then- SIKE!- the ref blows it again and your heart literally drops to your crusty, dead skinned toes. You know the game is over. I'll never forget winning that game, my first ever gold medal.

Under 14 came and went, playing First Division the first year and Premier the second. I was living in my soccer jackets and 'splash pants' at this point. The scariest thing was trying out for the Provincial Team. I was so mad at my mom for making me go. Every amazing soccer player my age from across THE WHOLE ISLAND was going to be there. I was scared of embarrassing myself. So, you can imagine my absolute shock when I got a call saying I made the team. ME? On the infamous Provincial team? You don't understand, having one of the 'PEI Provincial Soccer Team' jackets was a HUGE deal for a thirteen year old. Plus, we'd play tournaments across the Maritimes, go to Nationals (Saskatoon that year), stay in hotels, practice on the best fields, it felt like I won the lottery! How the heck did I make the team?? Well, the coach who would end up teaching me mostly everything I know about soccer, Mike, saw some potential in that little 90 pound Jessica. 

I need to mention how QUIET and PAINFULLY SHY I was at soccer rehearsals- I mean - practices. My close friends and family will gladly tell you that I never shut up, and am usually hyper, loud and obnoxious. But when I got to soccer practice in Charlottetown, I swear I was more quiet than a door mat. I really can't pinpoint why I was so shy. The girls I played with were all so incredible, and so nice to me! I was very focused at practice. Intimidation was probably another factor. I was loud on the field when we were playing a game, calling for the ball, yelling at the ref, etc. But off the field I didn't make a peep. School soccer was a different story, I was confident and completely myself with the people I grew up with. There was just something about playing in TOWN that made me so self-concious and timid!  

After making the Provincial team, I never looked back. My skill set was rapidly expanding, and the coaching staff (Mike, Meredith, John) taught us the most important details of the game. Passing, shooting, 'take downs', pressure, cover, drop, first touch, endurance, fitness, proper meal plans, these were all things that took over my life, and I loved it. So when it came time for me to move up to the Under 16 age division, I was ready to hit the pitch. I made the Premier team, we travelled to Nationals (Edmonton), and I was then ready for the ULTIMATE try out...

The Canada Games Team. 

OKAY. This was huge. Canada Games are the mini Olympics, in my opinion. "But Jessica, why were these games ESPECIALLY important?" Well, they were taking place on our home turf. PEI was hosting the 2009 Canada Games! I had my foot in the door, it was the same coaching staff as the Provincial team, so I felt way more confident going into it. I'm going to fast forward things here a little bit. 

I made the team.

I don't even know where to begin describing the incredible opportunities that aroused playing with the Canada Games team. This was three years before the Games were taking place, so we had a LONNNG time to prepare. UPEI was literally my home. Playing University teams and men's teams became the norm. We played a zillion games per year and all against people older and more experienced than us: Senior Women's Indoor league, Senior Women's Spring league (FREEZING, literally snow on the turf), Senior Summer league, the list goes on. U-Fit and gym sessions were mandatory (I loved that part). I SWEAR to you, I was at the point where I could do 60 full push ups in a row, easy. Like- SIXTY. PUSH UPS. UGH. I CAN BARLEY DO 10 NOW WITHOUT BASICALLY PASSING OUT! ANYWAY..

Being a part of this team was the opportunity of a life time. The coolest thing was going to England as a group. We had a couple matches there, toured London, and saw some amazing soccer stadiums! One awesome memory I have is playing in the "Pre-Canada Games Tournament" against New Brunswick. I went up for a header, got sandwiched between two girls, and broke a bone in my FACE. Just a little itty-bitty hair-line fracture, but my upper lip was as swollen as a grape fruit. Very cool battle wound.

I just loved playing. I loved the suspense the second before a corner kick was taken, the geometry of making the perfect pass between two defenders, hollering at the referee, getting under a drop kick that went 19807134 feet in the air and hitting the ball with your HEAD. I put my heart and soul into every practice, every moment I was on the field, and gave up a lot of my social life because I would want to be ready for a 6am Saturday practice. For three years, I was committed to this team like I was married to it. I was quiet, but by gosh I was determined. Girls were being cut and added left right and centre. I had to make a decision at one point: Soccer, or Drama. I chose Soccer. There were times I wanted to quit, but stuck with it all the way through. So there is no way for me to explain the absolute heartache when, months before the games took place, I was taken into the meeting that numbed me for a while. 

Two girls were to be made "Alternates". This meant you were on the team, but you weren't REALLY "on the team". You weren't allowed sitting on the bench during the Games, you didn't stay with your team overnight, and worst of all, you didn't play. If five people got hurt, THEN you MIGHT play. But the alternates are just that, alternates. 

Like I said, the excitement was through the roof on the Island because the games were about two or three months away. My whole team met in a big room. We were told that we'd be called one at a time for individual meetings on our progress throughout the three years, and told if we made the team or not. I'm not going to lie- I was feeling pretty darn confident at this point. I was with the team since the get-go. I worked my little tooshie off, so I felt like I deserved a spot. One girl was called, and she didn't come back. Ten minutes later, my name was called. 

I walk into a suffocatingly small room. My coach talks for a moment about how much I've improved and how far I've come. Then... He tells me I'm the Alternate... My ears started to buzz, and I automatically started nodding. I have no idea what they were saying, but I replied to everything with "okay". I left, drove home in a silent car, and my mom greeted me drying dishes with, "how did it go :)". I muttered, "I'm an alternate" almost as a question. Three years of hard work then flooded out of me in tear form. 

What hurt me a lot was that after I left, they went into the room where the rest of my team was waiting and announced that they all made the team. There were no individual meetings. Only a meeting for me and the other 'alternate'. That cut me to the core. 

I did something that I don't do very often, I quit. My parents have always pushed me to do my best, stick it out, but this was just too hard. And they supported me 100%. It punctured my soul for a long, long, LONG time. I couldn't help but think dedication, commitment, perseverance, all lead to a big ol' let down. But time heals everything, and I've learned quite a few things from my horribly enlightening experience. A) An astounding work ethic, B) Everything happens for a reason, and C) What the word "teamwork" truly means.

Lets be honest, I didn't know what to do with myself after I was off the team. I would literally walk around in circles at home trying to come up with things to do. But I went on to have the greatest senior year a girl could ask for, and most importantly, find my true passion in life. Many, many things would be different now if that experience hadn't happened. So at this point, I'm truly grateful for it. I didn't quit soccer forever. I started coaching, refereed some games/tournaments, and felt like I was rewarded for all my hard work when I played for the Holland College Hurricanes Varsity Team. We won the AUS Championship, went to Nationals in Edmonton, and I walked away with the "1st All Star" Award. I didn't know it at the time, but it was a wonderful way to end off my 'soccer career'.

So, there you have it. That's DEFINITELY not all of it, but if I keep writing I'll end up with a novel. All the little in-between moments have been left out. Like when you score a goal with your LEFT FOOT for the first time, laugh attacks at practice, getting hurt and not knowing when you'll be able to play again, crying after a game because you thought it was your fault that you lost, your teams cheer before you run to the field, getting greasy Wendy's after you won, SO many amazing little memories that I'll never forget. If you get absolutely nothing out of reading this, I hope you can take away this: sometimes we can't explain why lousy things happen in life, but there's a reason they do. Learn from your experiences, feel the emotions you need to feel, and allow yourself to grow. Remember when one door closes, another will fly right open. 

Lots of love, 
Jess

It’s 6:02pm in Greenfield Park, Montreal. An eruption of laughter is heard inside a dimly lit dining room. The smell of red wine surrounds a table of ten. Everyone seated shares the same blood.

Well, third cousin blood. And not everyone, I guess. But lets be honest, it doesn’t matter.

Meet the Hughes (pronounced “H-YOU-z-es”, not HUG-es). This group of incredibly humble human beings sprouted from my dad's side of the family. They grew up in Montreal, but have been visiting PEI every single summer since I can remember. And they all, coincidentally, had babies around the same time. 
Meet The Sisterhood. The Sisterhood consist of seven female members (and several honorary male members). The ladies include my two sisters, Brittany and Katie, and two sets of third cousin sisters: Emily and Stephanie, and Lindsay and Kate. The equation can be seen as followed, for a deeper understanding:

(Brittany + Jessica + Katie) x (Emily + Stephanie) x (Lindsay + Kate) ÷ (Montreal x PEI) = 
The Sisterhood.

The Sisterhood contains a variety of ages, spanning more than ten years between the youngest and the oldest. Every summer the Hughes come to PEI for their vacation, and these are without a doubt the best two weeks of the season! Endless sleepovers, trips to the beach, bonfires with smores, kitchen parties, and 'Sandspit' excursions are only a few reason why we looked so forward to it. 

Ringing in the New Year with the Hughes became a family tradition. Us Gallants would hop in a crowded car, say "sayonara" to Portage Road, and drive twelve hours in the snow to get to our Montreal destination. I was always stuck in the middle seat, because I was the "Middle Child", but the lack of foot space and numb legs always turned out to be worth it. Pulling into Norbert and Bernadette's driveway was like arriving at Disney World. Norbert and Bernadette are basically our third set of grandparents. These two never hesitated to let us bunk in their adorable Montreal home, complete with pull-out couch and VCR. The weekends consisted of multiple dance parties, delicious dinners, shopping on Sainte-Catherine street, and more laugh attacks than you could ever count with The Sisterhood and Hughes.

I could write about memories with The Sisterhood all day, so here are a select few that come to mind when I think of my crazy sisters:
☀︎ Singing the "Potter Puppet Pals: The Mysterious Ticking Noise" song all the way to Basin Head. We each had a character, I was Hermionie. Go watch it, now.
☀︎ Creating musicals in Emily and Stephanie's basement. The most memorable for me was "Peter Pan". Brittany played Captain Hook, and we choreographed a sword fight to the "Happy Days" theme song. Katie, Stephanie and Kate played "The Lost Girls", if I remember correctly.
☀︎Ten of my cousins wishing three year old Stephanie a "bonne nuit" in our old cottages, and her screaming back at us in french. We never had any idea what she was saying.
☀︎ Covering the windows of Brittany's bedroom with garbage bags, refusing to go to town for shopping and Cows ice cream, and staying up till three AM trying to solve the latest Nancy Drew computer game. 
☀︎ Jumping off the warf at Basin Head all day, then going to Norbert and Bernadette's cottage for mussels. If we stayed the night, we would usually have a bonfire, fall asleep to a movie with sunburns and salt water bathing suits, and repeat the next day. 
☀︎ Lindsay's La Ronde story. NEVER. GETS. OLD. 
☀︎ Sing Star (on Playstation 2), particularily "Take A Chance on Me" by ABBA.
☀︎ Every dinner gathering we've ever had
☀︎ Dancing at Brittany and Jordan's wedding
☀︎ Begging our parents to bring us to 'Sandspit' (an amusement park on PEI), only to have Kevin (Lindsay's Dad) get puked on riding the Ferris Wheel. 
☀︎ I'm thinking of a story right now and it's just too complex to explain. It ends with us dancing around a pile of sand chanting "Da Balls" repeatedly. 

If you were to ask me what my favourite memory has been with The Sisterhood, I wouldn't know where to begin. I find that pretty spectacular. We have experienced, what seems like, a lifetime of memorable moments that flash through my head like a lightning storm. It's just crazy for me to think that we only see each other 14 days out of 365 (max), and the connection remains as strong as steel. Time is so precious, and when we're together we take advantage of every moment. Don't worry- this still hasn't changed. My trip to Montreal this week was just a reminder of how much I love these girls. 

We all have to give it up to our parents. They have showed us what true friendship looks like and how precious family is. They have watched us grow up, and grow closer and closer as the years go by. I call the Hughes my aunts and uncles, when in reality they're my second cousins.

As I get older, I cherish this special this bond is between Emily, Stephanie, Lindsay, Kate, Brittany, Katie and I more and more. We have been together since we were in diapers, and that's never going to change. I love you girls so much!

A picture tells a thousand words. Here are a zillion photos of The Sisterhood and our family throughout the years. 

My playlist writing this post:
▸ Parade (Manhattan Concert Productions) 
- My boyfriend and many friends had the opportunity to perform at the Lincoln Centre in New York this week!! Jason Robert Brown (the composer of Parade) conducted, and they were part of incredibly star studded cast! Check out a video segment here!! 

Do you have any hilarious memories with your cousins growing up? Maybe a best friend you've known since elementary school? When we get together, it's non-stop chatter around a dinner table, constant swimming at the beach, or playing our favourite computer games. What are your favourite things to do with your lifelong family or friends? I'd love to hear! Happy Thursday!

Lots of Love,
Jess

For anyone who knows my BFBF (Best friend/ Boyfriend), Luc Trottier, they know that his movie collection is his pride and joy. More than often I come home to find him sitting in front of his shelf, simply admiring his impeccable collection. There isn't a bad movie on that shelf. It's truly an incredible sight.

Luc and I were deciding on a movie to watch, and he proceeded to pick his top ten all-time favourites just for kicks (this took approximately 45 minutes). I later asked him to make a list of his top five favourite TV shows, and he went above and beyond. It was impossible for me not to share this. Best part? No spoils! 
I give you: 

✭✭"Luc's Fav TV Shows for Jessica"✭✭ 
**His title. Keep in mind that Luc is the narrator here. He literally wrote all this for me**

5. Friends
How could this show not be on here? I call it the "Re-run King". In fact, I never watched it in syndication until the finale. But since it ended this has become the easiest show to watch after a long day. Better yet, I got the complete series and can pop it in anytime. The best sitcom ever. Period. No sitcom has created six more likeable characters. Ever. Kudos for a beautiful ending as well. 
(Hi, this is Jessica, I love this show!)

4. Game of Thrones
HBO is the most innovative network in the world and this is their pearl. G.O.T. has flipped TV on its head with its incredible budget and shocking twists/turns. Literally no one is safe. For example, "The Red Wedding". Need I say more? The cinematography and sets are beautiful, but without amazing characters it would mean nothing. Game of Thrones has it all. Kick ass story, kick ass cast, kick ass music. A nerd's heaven. Bring on Season 5!
(Jessica here. I haven't seen this either. But it's added to my list. Thanks Luc!)

3. House of Cards
Netflix is the future. And House of Cards made it its bitch. Releasing an entire season at once has created a generation of binge watchers who want it ALL. NOW. No commercials, no waiting. You just lock yourself in your room and escape for hours. But with this show comes the highest quality of television. I mean, the first two episodes are directed by the legendary David Fincher. Kevin Spacey is perfection as the brilliant Frank Underwood, and with Robin Wright as Claire on his side makes for a brilliant two seasons. If the third season is anything like the first two, this may go down as the best television shows in history. 
(Jessica again, I haven't watched this show but it sounds like I must!)

2. Breaking Bad
I just finished BB for my second time and I hate to admit- it almost took my top spot. This show is fascinating. The character arc of Walter White from Season 1 to Season 5 is the greatest arc of any character EVER on television. This is because of Bryan Cranston who delivers the best performance I have ever seen on a show. BB never tried to commercialize or sell out- it followed a plan from its creator and has a perfect beginning, middle and end. Full of heart, action, romance, and major twists, this show will go down as the best of the decade. God bless you, Vince Gilligan. I can't wait for my third round.
(You've probably noticed by now that I'm [I'm as in Jessica] not a big TV watcher. I just started watching this yesterday because of Luc's obsession. IT'S AMAZING)

1. LOST
For everyone who knows me, my #1 is no surprise. LOST defined my childhood and it will always be my favourite show. I was hooked from day one, and no show has EVER made me feel so attached to it. I would read message boards, all books on LOST, and buy all the seasons so I could watch them during the summer to prepare for the new season. (He also has LOST Barbies. "Action Figures", he calls them.. But they're def Barbies.. Don't tell him I told you). This show changed TV forever in its brilliant episodic format, focusing on multiple characters and their flashbacks. The writers never failed to be the most creative writers in the game, adding flash-forwards, time travel, all to please their loyal fan base who just craved more. I love each and every character and miss them all dearly. The ending never ceases to make me cry (for all you haters who hated it, you don't understand it. PM me if you want a legit explanation. You need to understand). It was a beautiful way to end my childhood obsession. I cannot wait to sit down with my boy and see his face as we go through the seasons together. It will be a dream come true. 
(AWWWW!!)

LUC'S HONORABLE MENTIONS:
- The Office
- How I Met Your Mother
- 24
- True Detective
- Arrested Development
- Whose Line is it Anyway?
- Sherlock
and most recently...
- Grey's Anatomy (because I forced him to). 

Shows Luc MUST Watch:
- The Sopranos
- The Wire
- The West Wing
- Fargo
Comment below if you have any suggestions for Jess and I to watch!

✭✭✭

Special thanks to Mr. Luc for creating this absolutely adorable list for me. He never intended it to be featured on Portage Road Diaries, but he so kindly allowed me to post it. 
Check out my Youtube series, "Singing in the Shower With Jess" this week for an original tune by yours truly! Watch and subscribe here! Thanks so much for tuning in every week and reading my blog!

My Playlist writing this week's post:
▸ Morning Phase by Beck! 
Won "Album of the Year" at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards! Hauntingly catchy melodies!

Lots of Love xo,
Jess

Orlando, Punta Cana, The Bahamas, and Portage Road. What do they all have in common? They're some form of ‘paradise’. Growing up on a road with my Grammie and Granda ten strides away, a huge back/side/front yard, the greenest grass you'll ever see, and a turnip field for sledding was not too shabby. Portage Road symbolizes so many things for me: family, freedom, nature, adventure, love, tranquility, serenity. I'm throwing it back this Thursday, listing some of my favorite things about growing up on Portage Road!

Blueberries
Every summer, I ride my bike down our red dirt road to pick some scrumptious blueberries. I always thought these blueberries were wild, but they're actually fields owned by a company.. Unfortunately, I learned  that the hard way. One radiant summers day, I stepped in the field and a gunshot went off. Naturally, I screamed at the top of my lungs and just... ran. “This is it, I’m going to die”, was all I could think. Turns out it was a sensor they use to keep crows out. Who knew it would also keep Jessica's out? Stick to scarecrows, please.

Soccer
Remember when you were a kid and summer was just a massive chunk of free time? No job (awesome), no school (awesome), and no license (iffy). If you lived in the country, like me, you couldn’t walk to a movie theatre or a mall. We were forced to imagine fun activities, and my idea of fun was juggling my soccer ball. For hours, and hours… and hours. Barefoot in the sun, everyday June-September, I kept the ball in the air as long as I could. I then proceeded to use our soccer net's post as a ‘passing partner’... I should create a list, “Things I Use To Do Before Facebook”, that would be number one for sure. My sister, Katie, once spent a whole summer teacher herself how to do a handstand into a back-walkover! Who needs gymnastics when you have a backyard!

Learning to Drive
I have this vivid memory of driving in our little red hatchback... In a field... With very, very, VERY tall grass. Did I mention my three year old sister behind the wheel driving? Don't worry, she was on my dads lap. Gosh, I remember laughing so hard I couldn't breath. We were swerving left and right, not knowing what direction we were going whatsoever! This isn't something you would normally think to do in your spare time, and it's wasn't necessarily safe... But man oh man, that memory is as clear as a newly developed photo. Blue sky, green grass, red hatchback.

My parents would also let my sisters and I take turns driving on our way home from Sunday mass. This was the absolute highlight of my week. The minivan practically called my name during Sunday service. I could barely concentrate knowing that I would get the chance to drive for TWO WHOLE MINUTES on Portage Road! It goes around in a loop, so we had a solid ten minutes to swap drivers. We only ever faced one roadblock: spring + mud = stuck mini van.

Grammies House
Back in the olden days, we woke up at 6AM every morning to head over to Grammie's house. Brittany, Katie (sisters), Olivia, William (cousins), Andrew, Mackenzie, Katelyn (neighbours) and myself would spend all day playing ‘school’, ‘Power Rangers’, ‘hospital’, watch cartoons, and if you were having an off day, sit in the 'time out chair' **shivers** coughKatiecough. The phrase "get outside and blow the stink off ya" was commonly heard. What was the best part of the day (and still is) you ask? Grammie's famous biscuits. I can confidently say that her baking is the best on this side of the world. Whenever you get the chance, stop by for an afternoon of tea and biscuits. You'll chat about who just drove by, what's on the front page of the newspaper, and life. Some of the most memorable conversations I've ever had are with my Grammie!

Animals
My cousins and I created the "Portage Road Animal Graveyard"... A little morbid, but our road is literally a funny farm. I think at one point between four houses we had a total of 15-20 animals. My aunt is amazing when it comes to rescuing animals, specifically dogs! Our house saw a fair share of puppies: Brandy (may he rest in peace), Chase (may he rest in peace, 2002-2012), Skeeter (......yes that was his name, and I think he lives in Florida now?), and currently, little three legged Sadie. My most fond memories are of Chase. We got him when I was ten, and he’s remembered as the friendly giant. Chase was convinced he was a lap dog. Man, I miss him so much! I also had the pleasure of witnessing my wittle baby, Mikayla Rae (cat), give birth to four kittens. One morning when she was very pregnant, Mikayla jumped up on my bed projecting an odd sound. While she was lying upon me, I realized she was in labour. Talk about a wake up call! In all seriousness though, it was pretty incredible to witness, and the kittens were excruciatingly adorable. **Shout out to our other cat- Mikey (aka Michael)- who wasn’t mentioned in this section at all.

Nature
Oh, I could go on about this forever. PEI is known for it's red dirt. I never believed our dirt was actually 'red', until I moved to Ontario and returned. I was shocked. The beauty of the red dirt on green grass on blue ocean is one of the most spectacular things you could ever witness. And the grass on Portage Road isn't JUST green. You know the opening scene of The Sound of Music? Yeah. It's THAT green. You wanna talk about a clear night sky? Sit on our trampoline at midnight and witness what looks like a painting of stars. Every night I get home in the summertime, I look to my left and see the big dipper clear as day. It doesn't get much better than the fresh air of Portage Road! 

I love being associated with Portage Road. It's more than just a road, it's a time capsule. I look out back and see my sisters and I playing 'house' when we were eight. I look at my home and see the place I learned to play guitar, where I found out my Grammie Gallant and uncle Rollie past away, where I woke up every Christmas morning. I look at the field next to us and see where my sister and brother-in-law will raise their kids one day. I look to the sky and see fireworks from summers past. I look down the road and see where we got chased by a beaver. It will always hold such a special place in my heart. It is quite simply, my diary. 

Lots of Love xo,
Jess

My playlist while writing this post:
▸ Sacred Heart- The Civil Wars 
▸ Ghost- Ella Henderson 
▸ Desperado- The Eagles
▸ There's Your Trouble- The Dixie Chicks
▸ Uptown Funk- Bruno Mars (OBSESSED)

Check out my new series, "Singing in the Shower With Jess"! Click here for the latest video of me singing "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid!

I'm 22, and live off of spaghetti. Spaghetti is a generalized word for me, meaning penne, vermicelli, macaroni, basically any sort of pasta falls under the category, 'spaghetti'. I love it. Slap some ground beef in a frying pan with Classico sauce to pour on top, and I'm a happy gal. You know the whole "if you were trapped on a deserted Island and were forced to eat one item of food, what would it be"? You can count on my answer consistently being spaghetti. 

Spaghetti and I are married. We'll never sign divorce papers, but I've realized I need to take a little break; Separate myself for a short period of time to have an 'eat, pray, love' kind of experience (in this case, mostly the 'eat' part). Our love will never die, but expanding my horizons is crucial. Otherwise we may get sick of each other. 

"My great adventure has begun." (Little Women).

It all started with a casserole. 

Pinterest comes in and out of my life in waves. I'm capable of spending over seven hours scouring different boards for my unannounced wedding, my 'future home', recipes I know I'll never make, and perhaps a funny quote or two. Recently, I came across an amazing website called pinchofyum.com that has a killer casserole recipe. How do I know it's killer? The picture looks really cool, which is reason enough. 

I learned a couple of things as I delved into the unknown world of casserole making. I'm happy to share with you a few tips for when you make your own casserole. Take what you will:

▸ Don't read the recipe on your phone while stirring the mixture. You are liable to drop your phone in it...
▸ Do not slice raw chicken in the vicinity of your phone. You are liable to get raw chicken on your already-cracked screen...
▸ If you're using a disposable baking pan (I don't have the luxury of a real casserole dish), double up the pans or you may end up accidentally pouring half the mixture in the burning oven... 
▸ If you're listening to music, make sure it's not too loud or else you'll miss the timer beeping...
▸ Keep the cooked broccoli far away while it's suppose to be 'set aside' (If you're like me and LOVE these little trees, they might convince you to eat them)
▸ Early lunch + very late supper + a cup of coffee IN BETWEEN = shaky hands and unfocused brain...
▸ Like the broccoli, keep the grated cheese FAR, FAR AWAY
▸ Friends always have the one ingredient you're missing (Thanks, Seal)
▸ Dance while cooking. It's way more fun. 
And my personal favorite:
▸ After you turn off the oven, prop it open jussssst a smidgen. Keep a safe distance, hold your shirt open like you're on "The Biggest Loser", and let the heat rise to your tummy. I pretend it's a scorching hot day at Basin Head... I know I'm not the only one! (Thanks Sam Smith). 

These are all great lessons I've learned from trying something new! I can make spaghetti with two hands behind my back, blindfolded, with a distracting monkey flailing about. Cooking is like an acquired taste. The more you drink coffee, the better it starts to taste, right? Just like painting or singing, the more you cook, the more comfortable you become! I'm happy to finally cross a recipe off my Pinterest list that doesn't require 40 pounds of sugar (AKA yummy, yummy deserts). 

Here's a link to the "Creamy Chicken Quinoa and Broccoli Casserole" I made! I highly recommend it! The only thing I would change is to keep it in the oven longer than 30 minutes, otherwise it's a little too liquidy. What I also love about this recipe is that most of the ingredients are already on my grocery list! No weird intricate ingredients like '1/2 tsp. low-fat powdered asparagus'. Does that even exist? I don't know. 

As I write this, I'm gobbling down some of the casserole I proudly forged today. I can taste the satisfaction :). What's your favorite recipe?? I want to try it! I love ALL food, so nothing is off limits (especially deserts)! Comment below, and let me know if you try the casserole recipe!
 
Lots of Love xo,

Jess

My playlist writing this weeks post:
All Grammy Nominees for Song of the Year! Getting ready to fill out my ballot!
▸ Stay With Me - Sam Smith
▸ Chandelier - Sia
▸ Take Me To Church - Hozier
▸ Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
▸ All About That Bass - Meghan Trainor (Watch my cover video of Lips are Movin here!)

P.S. Anyone confused about the difference between "Song of the Year" and "Record of the Year", like I was? Weeeeeell, Song of the Year is for the writers and Record is for the engineers! Happy Thursday!

It's MOVIE MONTH in my apartment! Since nominations are out and about, we've been cracking down on every film we can before the Oscars roll around. My apartment is also infested with sickness, so what better time to sink into your crusty couch cushion than with a bunch of sneezing/coughing/sweaty/ shivering friends!  

This has been a year of biopic films: Foxcatcher, Selma, The Imitation Game, just to name a few! I always hold my breath when "based on true events" pops up at the beginning of a movie. As a performer, I can't help but think about how challenging and exhilarating it must be for the lead actor! It's one thing to live and breathe as a completely different character, but for someone like Reese Witherspoon to have Cheryl Strayed on the set of Wild EVERY DAY watching her?... How intimidating would that be!? It also makes me think... Who would play Jessica Gallant in the biopic film, "Ruffled Girl- The true story of a girl who ate herself to death with Ruffles Regular chips." If YOU had to choose someone to play you in a movie, who would it be? Would you even trust someone enough to take on that task? I have to say, it's not a hard decision for me. My top four would easily be Margot Robbie, Reese Witherspoon, Rachel McAdams, or Beyonce. 

I tried to pick my three favourite movies this year, but it was impossible. Instead, I made a list of movies that I LOVED and think YOU should see- if you're into the whole movie watching thing:
1. Gone Girl (Freakishly amazing)
2. Whiplash (Anyone who was a band geek in high school will especially love it *Alto Sax*)
3. Birdman ("The actors movie")
4. Into the Woods (One word, Sondheim)
5. Wild (Reese's Pieces)
6. Foxcatcher (Steve Carell was scarily convincing)
7. Selma (So powerful, a must see)
8. The Imitation Game (Benedict Cumberbatch ROCKS)
9. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (Never thought I'd enjoy a movie about apes other than Tarzan)
10. X-Men: Days of Future Past (The only X-Men I've ever seen and enjoyed every second)
11. Interstellar (My boyfriend is OBSESSED with Christopher Nolan, you should be too)

Movies I still need to see: Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Theory of Everything, Still Alice, Big Eyes, Cake, Hunger Games (how have I still not seen this!?), and American Snipper!

If you can't make it to the movie theatre this week, check out "The Hollywood Reporter Roundtable" interviews. Watching it kind of feels like you're spying on a bunch of celebrities having coffee, but it's beyond intriguing. Click here to watch! 

What were your favourite movies this year? Are there any missing from my list that I MUST see? Comment below to let me know! Also- if you're bored- you can check out my new series on Youtube "Singing in the Shower With Jess"! I've been having way too much fun working on it.. Click here to watch!! 

My playlist writing this week's post:
▸ I Can Love You Better (Dixie Chicks, Wide Open Spaces)
▸ Bennie and the Jets (Elton John, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road)
▸ Lets Fall In Love (Ella Fitzgerald, The Cole Porter Songbook)
▸ Uptown Funk! (Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars)
▸ Paperdoll (Celine Tsai, Champagne EP)
▸ Relapse (Celine Tsai, Champagne EP)  *** one of my amazingly talented friends! 

Lots of love xo,

Jess 

My family is naturally competitive. Whether it's a soccer game, playing Mario Kart, calling "shot gun" first, or debating the correct lyrics of an Ariana Grande song, baby.. We were born that way. BUT... There is absolutely nothing that beats the competitive nature in my house than a board game. My sister, Brittany, and her husband, Jordan, own a zillion board games. Every Sunday they visit Portage Road, we find ourselves sitting at the table till 12 AM screaming and laughing over who gets the point, who cheated, or how stupid an answer was. This past holiday season was no exception. The only difference was that we didn't just play on Sundays, we played every single day. That is why I've created the ULTIMATE BOARD GAME LIST OF 2015. I'm telling you, if you're finding yourself awkward when you have a group of people over, these games will break the ice like you're in the opening sequence of Frozen. So without further ado, here are my five favorite board games for the new year.

           1. Catch Phrase
I cannot count the amount of laugh attacks I've had playing this game. I'd like to think of it as hot potato meets Taboo. The objective is to make your teammates guess what word/phrase you're given before the buzzer runs out. Whichever team ends up with the buzzer in their hand, loses that round. You'll get a great ab work out laughing at the explanations people come up with (My mom likes to ramble on with stories). Try it, see if you crack under pressure (say crack again) Crack. 

            2. Scattegories
Oh, Scattegories. How I love thee. A decent way to describe Scattegories is a fun Acrostic Poem. A card is chosen containing a topic and a word or phrase. For example, the topic may be "Things that float", and the phrase might be "NO GRAVITY".  You need to come up with a "thing that floats" for each letter of the phrase. A- airplane, I- ice, etc. The tricky part is if two people have the same word under the same letter, they cancel each other out. Ergo, no point. You're also on a time limit. First person to 25 wins the game (we usually go to 50)! If there was a way to make this game my day job, I would do it. 
WARNING: People who think they will be horrible at it are usually amazing. 

           3. Even Steven's Odd
DICE GAME. Looking for a way to get your heart rate up while sitting down? THIS IS IT. I'm not sure when in elementary school you learn about 'even' numbers and 'odd' numbers, but I must have missed that week... Because I'm really not great at this game. It requires a little mental math, quick reflexes, and pure luck. Each player is given a color coated set of dice, and a card from the deck is chosen containing a combination (ex. All Odd Numbers, All 5's, Two 5's and Four 3's, etc). Everyone starts rolling their dice at the same time, and the first person to get the correct combination grabs the "Even Steven" squishy-dice-thingy. It's exhilarating and you accidentally get smarter playing it. 

            4. Spot It
The tip-of-the-tongue game. There are a couple different ways you can play Spot It, but it has the same objective either way. There are eight items on each card (a snowflake, an apple, cute lil things like that), and ANY TWO cards have EXACTLY ONE symbol in common. How that is possible, I will never understand. Once you see a match, you blurt it out and take that card as a point. That's usually where T.O.T.T.S flairs up (Tip of the Tongue Syndrome). See you local Doctor for info. 

            5. Dutch Blitz
This game was invented by a guy named Werner Ernst George Muller. 
WERNER. ERNST.. GEORGE... MULLER. 
HOW AMAZING IS THAT NAME?? 
Buy Dutch Blitz and play it. My bro-in-law Jordan always explains the rules perfectly, so call his Game-Explaining Hot Line at 1-800-555-6789. You really don't want me trying to describe it, I'll ramble on for hours. Just trust me when I say you'll have a hoot of a time playing. 

So, what's you're favourite board game? Please tell me! We're always looking for new games on Portage Road! For now, I challenge you to get off the internet, invite your pals over, and have a blast laughing your butts off playing one of these five games. Let me know when YOU try one! 

My playlist while writing this weeks post:
▸ Quit Playing Games with My Heart (Backstreet Boys, The Very Best of the Backstreet Boys)
▸ Wildest Dreams (Taylor Swift, 1989)
▸ Bless the Broken Road (Rascal Flatts, Greatest Hits)
▸ Bloodstream (Ed Sheeran, x)
▸ I Want It All (Queen, Greatest Hits)
▸ What It Means to be a Friend...... (13 The Musical.. L.O.L)

Lots of love xo,
Jess