How to Make This Year Better Than the Best Year of Your Life

My friends and I pose for 2014's corniest graduation photo.

Entering a new year is always a great time to reflect on what you’ve done in the past 365 days. As I lay in my bed thinking about the past year, it hit me that 2014 was the best year of my life.

I travelled, graduated, perfected “on fleek” eyebrows, finally got over an ex, left a crappy retail job, got an internship and then a job at my dream workplace, and paid off my student debt.

So I wondered is this the peak?
No. I won’t let it be.

I know there are things I purposely didn’t attempt last year in fear of failing. So be my witness and hold me to it, 2015 is a year I will not be scared to fail.

1. Learn to Drive

I’ve gone 22 years without a license because transportation in an urban hub is plentiful and cheap-ish, but also mainly because I think I’m scared of driving. The idea of driving looks easy and I’m sure with practice it becomes more natural but in fear of being judged by other drivers and avoiding deadly accidents, I think I’ve tricked myself into being scared of the wheel. In 2015, I promise to complete my driver’s education course.

2. Learn Italian

I love their food, I love their men, and I love listening to their song-like conversations. This past summer I tried learning the language — I even got an app! After two weeks my laziness and over-tired-self-from-working-retail kicked in and I said arrivederci to that. In 2015, I promise to learn Italian.

3. Explore New Places

Travelling is a given but how about discovering places at home? I love the city I’ve been born and raised in but outside the boundaries of my daily life, I know different neighbourhoods as much as someone who recently Googled it. Not only will this open up so many different possibilities but also I’m pretty sure I’ll look cool in front of my friends from out of town. In 2015, I will discover the full potential of Toronto.

4. Hike

Nature is a gift we truly need to appreciate. I’ve been on a couple of hikes and each time I can’t help but be overwhelmed by the beauty of nature. Ravines in the city leave me wanting more from the wild. I want to see what those Planet Earth documentaries are all about and I think hiking in small forests is a good starting point. In 2015, I will take a hike (or more).

5. Express Myself

No Diplo, already tried that and failed. I realized while writing this that the more I put my thoughts on paper — or a virtual document — I come closer to understanding myself. You need to be your own best friend. In 2015, I promise to publish more blog posts and keep my creativity flowing.  

Zombie Nation Trailer 2011

A personal project of mine, here is the trailer for Zombie Nation.
We made this for a project in documentary class, keep in mind this is a mockumentary.
The trailer was edited by yours truly, Ashley.
All the zombie footage was captured at Toronto's 2011 Zombie walk.
Enjoy it my little urban dwellers!

Zombie Nation Trailer from Ashley Gaete on Vimeo.

End of Summer 2011... In Pictures

Black on black

The city is mine... "Which one?"... T-o-r-o-n-t-o.

Some people say you can't love an inanimate object. I prove them wrong.

Cole World

Louis interior... at the ROM.

"There are plenty of fish in the sea."

Lil Jon at frosh

Nuit Blanche

Toronto Thunderstorm: 08/24/11

Things got a little crazy tonight.When I got home from work, I ran from my streetcar stop to the entrance of my building. My friends, those were the scariest ten seconds of my life. 

This storm was so terrifyingly beautiful I had to capture it with my Cannon... too bad it ran out of battery as soon as I turned it on. However, I got a teeny-bit of footage of lightning striking. This video is composed of three of the same short clips, each longer than the previous just so you can see the lightning.

Enjoy!

Monday June Twenty-seventh, Twenty-eleven.

The birth of the blog.


We would like to take this opportunity to thank the ones who are starting this journey with us. It'll be a heart filled project that both of us will fully commit to.


SayUrban looks forward to sharing the urban life with the rest of you.


Much Love + Take Care,
-Ashley and Midori