Over the years I have enjoyed celebrating engagements, marriages, babies etc with my friends and families. Everytime I think, wow I'd love to have all my favourite people in one place to celebrate. Often when I'd express this sentiment to people they'd say "just wait for your wedding!" to which I wonder...why? I want my favourite people in one place. If we need to celebrate something, well I can think of many accomplishments worth celebrating.

 

Most recently, I have undergone the biggest life transition to date- gaining the ability to breathe fully! Most people who know me even a little bit will know I am not a morning person, nor am I known for my puntuality. Well, turns out that isn't solely due to my disorganization. For years I was struggling to wake up, developed sleep anxiety, experienced sleep paralysis, unable to lose weight, was falling asleep constantly and felt constantly brain fogged and was becoming exceedingly impatient (sorry about that last one everyone). I thought it was due to having 2 jobs/being social (nope, pandemic proved that to be incorrect), or it was due to the fact that everyone is tired after 30 (apparently tired is true but they are still functional). 

 

So one day I made a self-deprecating joke to my dentist (that she did not find funny) and her follow up questions led to her imploring me to get a sleep study. I went, despite thinking sleep apnea was something that only impacted men over 65. The technician from my study, after seeing the preliminary results, asked if I felt okay to drive home. I told him I felt like I had a great sleep, to which he mumbled "oh boy".  Turns out I had severe apnea with an average of 41 breathing stoppages/hour...cool. 

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Next thing I know I am back an orthodontist who is telling me that no amount of wiring/appliance can fix this issue, we will need to talk surgeries...cool. 

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Fast forward to today- I have had my tonsils removed, my jaws moved forward 12mm, cartilage removed from my nose, my chin cut and reattached and I am finishing up on my 4th year in invisalign (which means, when adding in my first round of braces, I have now spent 25% of my life in braces), I have spent $42K (because OHIP sucks), done 5 road trips to Toronto with my parents and am feeling better than I could have EVER IMAGINED. 

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These past 4 years have been tough, but very worth it. I am proud of myself for investing in myself, for not allowing myself to believe I was just lazy and for doing everything I could to give myself the best future possible. This has been one of my greatest achievements to date.

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And so, I want to celebrate the launch of Laura 2.0 with all of you. 

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WHAT IS LAURAPALOOZA?

 

LAURAPALOOZA is a celebration of all things/people that Laura loves. I want my favourite people gathered in my favourite place doing some of my favourite things- trivia, BBQ, paddle tennis, basketball, campfires, capture the flag and a dance in the dining hall. 

It'll be BYOB, but I will have some beers and other drinks available. Camp drink rules: no glass bottles, must be discreet when walking about the campground (think Yeti mugs).  There is a cost for the cabins, I won't know the amount per person until I have the RSVPs.  

 

I will be posting a packing list closer to the date so everyone has time to pack what they need for an awesome weekend.

 

 

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