Tag: A Day in the Life of Mayumi

A Day in the Life of Mayumi

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5 Things I Learned From My Fur Nephew Osric

Fur Nephew

Today, August 15, marks exactly 3 weeks since Osric, my fur nephew has been staying with me. His dad and one of my besties is moving and I offered to look after him. I don’t know how long I will have him, but I am enjoying every minute of it. During this time, I have learned 5 wonderful things from him.

  1. Drink lots of water! Every opportunity Oz has to ferociously lap at a bowl of water he does–whether it’s here at my home or at the dog parks in North Vancouver. In particular, the park at Harbourside Seawall and the smaller one beside Waterfront Park, near the Lonsdale Quay Market and seabus station.
Ozric drinks lots of water everyday
Osric drinking water at the dog park at Harbourside Seawall in North Vancouver, BC.

2. He taught me to stretch more. After taking a nap, sitting or lying down in the same position, Oz always stretches. The yoga pose, Down Dog has several benefits: it elongates your spine, strengthens the muscles in your arms, upper back and shoulders. hands, wrists and fingers, opens up the backs of your legs and improves circulation, and relieves tension and stress.

My Fur Nephew is The Best Dog I Have Ever Met

3. Be sociable. Osric has a great personality and is friendly with everyone, human or dog. I have never seen him get mad — when I accidentally wake him up from a nap, take a little longer to get ready or I am slow to keep up with his fast pace. He is very relaxed and even-keeled.

4. And take daily walks! Walking lowers your blood sugar levels, high blood pressure and increases your metabolism. It will help you to live longer. Japan has one of the largest number of centenarians in their country because they walk a lot and eat a lot of seafood. Luckily for me, I have been taking Osric out for 3 walks a day.

Osric at Harbourside Seawall and dog park.
Osric at Harbourside Seawall and dog park.

5. Also, don’t stay mad at your loved ones. I just yelled at Mama and shortly after I did, my fur nephew came to check on me. He rubbed the top of his head on my leg a couple of times–like don’t be mad. My heart just melted and all the anger disappeared. He is such a wonderful addition to my family and it makes me sad that I won’t be able to see him everyday when Ben takes him back.

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A little About Mayumi — 10 Things You May Not Know About Me

MAYUMI IZUMI | Content Creator

If know me in person or you’re following me on Instagram, you may know quite a lot about me because I share A LOT about myself. It’s the way I’ve always been.

People are sometimes shocked at how much I reveal but why not? I enjoy connecting with others and bonding with them over our similarities.

But there are things you may not know or have not read on my social platforms. Here are 10 things you may not know about me:

1) My middle name is Rosanna. My Papa named me Mayumi Rosanna after a Japanese actress and an Italian singer. Thank you, Papa — I love my name!

2) I drive 6-speed and can’t imagine going back to driving automatic. One of my nicknames is Miss Andretti after the race car driver because I love to drive fast!

My car baby, The Boss, 6-speed VW Tiguan
My car baby, The Boss, 6-speed VW Tiguan

3) I grew up an only child and love to be the center of attention!

4) I am a highly sensitive person (scientific term coined by psychologist Elaine Aron), an empath and highly intuitive. What does all this mean? I process a lot of information (that most others miss) about people all at once, can pick up on others emotions & feel them as if they were my own, and a lot of times I know something is going to happen before it happens.

5) I am of Japanese heritage but was born in Vancouver, BC at a hospital on Oak Street that is now BC Women’s & Children’s Hospital. I am proud to be a Vancouverite and Canadian!

6) I studied Fashion Design in Toronto and Fashion Merchandising here at VCC. Fashion was my first love!

Max & Mia designed by MAYUMI IZUMI
Max & Mia designed by MAYUMI IZUMI (dress to be revealed SOON)

7) My first retail job was at Pegabo Shoes (sister store to Aldo) in Pacific Centre. I love shoes!

8) I was on the field hockey team in my final year at Carson Graham Secondary. I love playing but preferably floor hockey!

9) I took guitar lessons for about 1 or 2 years but stopped because the music school closed down and now I forget how to play. But I loved it and going to teach myself again SOON!

Mayumi Izumi playing guitar
Me, Mayumi playing my Yamaha guitar my Mama bought

10) I’m a big flirt! Always have been and still love to do it! It goes hand-in-hand with being center of attention… Hahaha!

If you haven’t checked out my Instagram profiles (I have 4), go to my Contact page or my main profile.

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I AM Grateful …

I'm Grateful

I am GRATEFUL …

I am grateful for so many things but top of mind — Mama Izumi, Big Sis and a certain someone who has recently come back into my life …

I risk “scaring” him off if he reads this blog BUT I guess that’s the risk I take for expressing my thoughts in the moment.

This moment is sooo delicious too … Leave it to a foodie to describe time with a food adjective. Hahaha … I’ve got my ear buds plugged into YouTube music and Shawn Mendes’ song, “In My Blood” and I’m feeling really happy.

Sooo back to gratefulness and this certain someone … We are supposed to go on a date today. I have the perfect outfit picked out too. My thrifty finds that I purchased from a Facebook Marketplace seller yesterday — sleeveless white & blue blouse that ties in the back with a teardrop opening $5.00 and stretchy jeans with a proper waist $8.00 (I hate low-waisted pants – they give me muffin top – yuck!).

We recently reconnected on Facebook and exchanged numbers and spoke on the phone a couple of times. Almost every time I think about him I get butterflies … Awww … I’m such a girl. Hahaha ….

This blog is going to be short and sweet like ME. I shall end this here for: 1) fear that he will read this and I may reveal TOO MUCH and 2) I will continue this later and let y’all know what happens …

Question is — WILL HE ACTUALLY CALL TODAY …. Fingers crossed, Babes.

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Capilano Courier – My Second Article

We are only in our 5th day of the New Year but 2020 is starting out great! I went to my Yoga Fusion class yesterday at Steve Nash Lonsdale and my body is thanking & cursing me at the same time… Lol…

Thanking me because it was such a delicious feeling to stretch my under used muscles and I know how beneficial yoga is for my over all well being.

And cursing me because my body hurts, aches and feels fatigued. But it’s that “good pain”….

This morning I will be meeting with Spencer Zimmerman, Capilano University Film Club President to interview him for the university’s magazine. For those of you who are new to my site, I am a Communications major at the university and a Contributor to Capilano Courier.

I am also very active in other campus organizations such as: CSU’s (Capilano Students’ Union) Mature & Parent Student Liaison, Capilano Radio’s Social Media Director, and the Social Media Consultant for YWiB Capilano (Young Women in Business).

I am looking forward to meeting Spencer to learn more about the Film Club. They have FREE movie showings on Tuesdays. I have been wanting to go see a flick but haven’t had a chance yet.

It is now the afternoon and the interview is complete. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Spencer. It was a great interview and we covered a lot of information in about half an hour. But we hung out for another almost 30 minutes because the conversation just flowed and we connected.

There is so much I want to tell y’all (I’m Canadian but have American friends – Lol) about the club but I cannot because my article will be published in the February issue of Capilano Courier.

But if I reveal just one little tidbit … The film club will be having Sci-Fi month SOON! Stay tuned … Subscribe to my site OR follow me on my main Instagram profile: @mayumiizumi (click on link on contact us page OR follow Spencer & his crew @capufilmclub to learn MORE.

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Vancouver Is Expensive AF – Thrifting Is My Solution!

What was once just for fun, has turned into a lifestyle and necessity for me. Through one of my Instagram alter egos, Miss M: https://www.instagram.com/missmsthriftyfinds/ – I am your guide to thrifting and share my thrifty finds that I purchase mainly via Facebook Marketplace sellers, but also at my favourite thrift store, Clothes For Change in North Vancouver and various other thrift stores sprinkled throughout our city such as BC SOS Thrift Stores in Steveston.

Thrifting brings me such joy. I plan a whole day around my Facebook Marketplace appointments and make it an adventure! On Saturday, I had two appointments in Port Coquitlam and invited my Mom, Mako to join me in my modern day treasure hunt.

We picked up a NYX eyeshadow palette for $10.00, an IKEA rug for ONLY $5.00, enjoyed lunch at Arisu where the food was so yummy that it immediately became my new favourite Korean restaurant. After lunch we went downstairs and did some grocery shopping at Hanam Supermarket.

The pricing was good at the market, fresh produce AND best of all they have a customer loyalty program in which they reward us with points and exclusive special prices. They gave me 3 key tags so I gave one to my Mom.

Hanam customer service actually recommended sharing their loyalty program with family and friends when they gave me the key tags. Great for sustainability and since Mako would be coming with me it only made sense that we would open just one loyalty account.

Thrift shopping, even if you’re just looking is a great way to spend the afternoon with friends or family. On Sunday, I met up with one of my BFFs and Big Sis, Mona on Commercial Drive in the heart of Vancouver thrift.

We went to Miscellany Finds for the first time and it is a huge store with lots of great thrifty finds! And the best part we didn’t spend a dime. A truly thrifty experience – we were just window shopping …

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Family means EVERYTHING to me…

My family is very small. It’s just me and my Mom, Mako or Mama Izumi as I affectionately call her in my Instagram posts. My father, Hiroaki lives in Japan with his second wife but he didn’t have any other children – just me.

I’m the last Izumi and because of this I have decided to keep my last name if I get married. As I get older, marriage is not my goal but having children is of utmost importance to me.

I already have my children’s names picked out Ryder, for my son – my “big sis” and bff, Mona suggested it and I agreed. And my daughter will be named, Mia.

Who’s my baby daddy?! He shall remain unnamed and a mystery… Lol!

Subscribe and stay tuned for MORE on my family stories …

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Procrastination – Why am I doing it?!

I thought I had beat my Enemy – my self-saboteur … But apparently NOT. I am a Communications student at Capilano University in North Vancouver and for reasons not clear to me I am procrastinating doing my assignments. So much so that it becomes too late to submit them.

And my wonderful professor had even given me extensions on our first two assignments due even though I didn’t ask! And then we just had our midterm. It was a straight forward exam and had I studied properly I could have aced it. Nope, I failed it by 1.5 marks!

Although, these marks say something about me as a student it is sending the wrong message. It’s painting the wrong picture. I am a former honor roll student, winner of top 100 student in my school district, highest mark in my English 12 class and awarded 3 English awards during my high school years.

After high school, I studied Fashion Design at the International Academy of Design & Technology in Toronto, Ontario, Fashion Merchandising and How to Start a Small Business at VCC in Vancouver, BC.

Last year I enrolled in the Applied Digital Communications & Social Media program at Capilano University and just one course shy of completing the program and receiving the Award of Achievement. I just registered for the last course, Effective Writing for Web Content. I can’t wait! It will be taught at our new campus, at the historical Shipyards District.

Possible reasons for my self-sabotage: fear of success, fear that I may truly get EVERYTHING THAT I DESIRE, or to balance the success I am experiencing in my life …. I’m not sure why I am doing it.

I was hoping that by the end of this blog I would have it figured out … Apparently not. I will keep you in the loop when I know the answer. Stay tuned …

When you subscribe to www.mayumiizumi.com you will receive our Fall Newsletter.

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Carson Graham Grad Reunion – Doing Now What I Wanted to Back Then …

Carson Grad Reunion

Last night I attended my high school reunion at Seymour’s Pub in North Vancouver, BC. And I feel like I have been given a 2nd chance to do EVERYTHING I wanted to back when I was in my final year at Carson:

  1. I was the organizer of our reunion and I had really wanted to be on our Grad Committee back in high school.
  2. I am attending Capilano University and I had wanted to when the Cap U reps came to Carson to talk to the soon to be grads.
  3. I am on the Board of Directors for Capilano Students’ Union and I had wanted to be on Students’ Council at Carson.
  4. I am a Contributor on Capilano Courier’s monthly magazine and I had wanted to be part of the year book committee.
  5. I am part of the Capilano Radio Club and I had wanted to get involved in clubs.
  6. I am the Social Media & Events Consultant for Cap U’s YWIB (Young Women In Business) and I had wanted to be a group leader.
  7. Last night I spoke to everyone that came out to Our Reunion even though I didn’t recognize some of them initially. I am now the social butterfly with the gift of gab and schmoozing that I always wanted to be.

I am so happy that I organized last night’s event because it made EVERYONE THAT CAME HAPPY TOO! There was a comfort seeing my former classmates because we are all the same age (all of us holding our cell phones & yearbook that Candi brought at a distance for us to SEE! Hahaha… ), no one-up man-ship, and a unity that I think we ALL FELT.

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Start With A Dream

I am optimistic, spiritual, and AMBITIOUS AS F@%*! Great combination, right?! Hahaha …

My life is charmed. Everyday I am happy just to wake up. Grateful for everything that God/Universe brings to me. My life journey has not always been so blissful. I have faced many challenges and hurdles. Depression, thoughts of suicide, anxiety, insomnia …

But I conquered all of those conditions AND FAR WORSE … How did I do it?! Perseverance, a lot of pain, and tears. The key is to keep busy, doing something you love, enjoy, and get involved in something, someone, a cause you believe in …

When you have these negative thoughts it’s important to remember you ARE NOT ALONE! And DO NOT ISOLATE, HIBERNATE, AVOID PEOPLE… I know that when depression has you in it’s clutches ALL YOU WANT IS TO BE ALONE. BUT trust me when I say that is the worst thing you can do! You will go deeper into the hole and it will get harder and harder to climb your way out when you isolate.

In 1999 my dream was to be a Famous Fashion Designer. I grew up watching Jeanne Becker’s “Fashion Television” & “Fashion File” … I have a different dream$ now … AND some of them I am making come true everyday through writing & editing my blogs, posting short stories/snippets on Instagram, taking photos, and through Creating Content & Digitally Marketing,

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Work, School, Life Balance

Being a mature student is challenging. But I am embracing the challenge with open arms. I work full time for a software company and I am taking one class in the School of Communications at Capilano University that meets twice a week.

On the suggestion of the President of Capilano Students’ Union I am a candidate and running for Mature Student and Student Parent Representative. My candidacy was made official by the Chief Returning Officer and my Election Campaign began yesterday, Friday, September 27th .

I have embraced student life by becoming active on campus by joining Capilano Radio Club in which I will be managing the radio’s Social Media platforms with another Communications Student & I am hoping to start a podcast of my own . I will be a Consultant for YMIB’s, Young Women In Business, Marketing Department regarding their Social Media & Events and I have attended my first pitch meeting with Capilano Courier, the University’s Monthly Magazine. During my first volunteer shift as a Theatre Usher, I was fortunate to watch a great film by filmmaker, Tom Radford at the University’s theatre, Blue Shore Financial .

I am unapologetically ambitious. But I am grounded. I balance my work, school, and campus activities by:

  • Exercising – taking Pilates & Yoga classes at Lonsdale Steve Nash Fitness Club where I am a Fitness Ambassador.
  • Seeing my family & friends – namely my Ma, Mako and my Big Sis, Mona.
  • Taking & enjoying my alone time. Doing things that make me happy & indulging my inner child.
  • Attending the North Shore Alliance Church, volunteering at their coffee bar and reading spiritual & motivational books.