Lately...

Oh hey, it's Friday. It's also mid-May. Whoa!

5 things I've been up to lately...

Cinco de Mayo. Any day that involves celebrating with good food and drink, I'm there. However, this year we had to skip the margaritas. But, what we lacked in margs, we made up for in pulled pork tacos, made in the slow cooker. Yum! By the way, the hard taco shell in the photo below is ranch-dusted (aka tastes like Cool Ranch Doritos)... mind blown. 

Snapchat filters. Ok, so I may be a little late to the party, but I just recently discovered Snapchat filters. These things kill me, tears have been shed. I could spend hours on the face swap filter alone. Creeeepy.

her father's daughter  //  her mother's daughter

Spring weather. Now that the weather is in the mid to high teens (high 60s), I've been taking every chance I get to go out for a walk. My new favourite thing is to strap little missy into the front carrier and hit the trail behind our house. Not only does it put her in an instant coma, carrying that extra 10 pounds is a good workout, and just what I need to ease back into some type of routine.

My first Mother's Day. My husband had to work on Sunday, so we celebrated a day early. Morley got me a beautiful Michael Kor's bracelet, she has such good taste. My parents also came down for a nice visit. On the actual day, my sister in law took us out for brunch. I could get used to being spoiled like that.

The little lady. Baby girl is almost 2 months old. Time has sure flown by. She's starting to get into a sleep routine (yay for 4 hours straight!). I would love for her to go longer, but how can you be mad at a tiny face that now smiles back at you? She also has a new best friend, and is quite the chatty Cathy when they're together.

What have you been up to lately?

5 Ways to Get Outdoors in Toronto

Despite being referred to as the ‘concrete jungle’, the opportunities to get outside in the City of Toronto are unlimited. When you take the chance, it is surprisingly easy to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of big city life and let nature take over.  Here are 5 of my favourites ways to get outdoors in the city of Toronto. 

Go back in time at Evergreen Brick Works  //  Evergreen Brick Words is a former quarry and industrial site located in the Don River Valley of Toronto. Prior to becoming a tourist attraction and natural area, Don Valley Brick Words operated for nearly 100 years and provided bricks used to construct many well-known Toronto landmarks including Casa Loma and the Ontario Legislature. Since the closure of the original factory, the quarry has been converted into a city park which includes a series of naturalized ponds, while the buildings have been restored and opened as an environmentally focused community and cultural centre by Evergreen, a national charity dedicated to restoring nature in urban environments. 

Take the ferry to the Toronto Islands  //  The Toronto Islands are a chain of small islands located just off the downtown waterfront in Lake Ontario. They are home to parkland, the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, a small residential community, several boat clubs, an amusement park and several sand beaches (including a clothing-optional). The island is a popular recreation destination, with access by ferry, by private boat or water taxi.

Take a stroll through High Park  //  With over one million visitors annually, High Park is the jewel of Toronto’s park system.  Located just west of the downtown core, the park is situated on 400 acres, and is a mixed recreational and natural park, with sporting, cultural and educational facilities, gardens, playgrounds and a small zoo. Over one-third remains in a natural state, which means it is home to many species of wildlife. High Park opened to the public in 1876, and is considered the largest park entirely within the city limits. 

Walk, bike or run the Don  //  The Don River valley winds its way through Toronto parks and conservation areas and provides an interesting glimpse into the history of the City of Toronto. Stretching 32 kilometres from the Oak Ridges Moraine down to Lake Ontario, the watershed encompassing the Don River is extremely important for the city and surrounding area. The Don offers many opportunities for long and short walks, runs or bike rides away from the city traffic, with numerous trails that branch off the multi-use paved trail, taking cyclists to city street access points or other adjacent parks.

Say hello to the animals at the Toronto Zoo  //  The City-owned Toronto Zoo opened its doors in August 1974. Situated on 710 acres, the Toronto Zoo is the largest zoo in Canada - home to over 5000 animals, representing over 450 species.  Divided into 7 regions, animals representing the Indo-Malaya, Africa, Americas, Australasia, Eurasia, and of course, Canada, call the Toronto Zoo home. 

For more things to see and do in Toronto, start here:
5 Free Things to Do in Toronto
10 Things to Do in Toronto This Summer
Art Gallery of Ontario
Betty Sutherland Trail

What is your favourite outdoor place, space or activity in your town? Grab the button and link up below!

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An InLinkz Link-up

5 Essentials to Pack for a Mystery Vacation

Our 'mystery family vacay' is just around the corner, and the packing has officially begun! While my parents have given clues along the way in terms of what to bring, I am still finding it very challenging not to overpack. Do you suffer from overpacking too?
Obviously there are many things that are essential to any successful vacation - passport, flight confirmation, credit card, travel/health insurance documents, etc., but there are some items that I find just as important, and that go straight into my carry-on...

1.. a comfortable camera bag Not knowing the activities we will be partaking in, but knowing a camera  is a must, it is key to bring a camera bag that is easy to carry, comfortable, and can hold all of the essentials. Bonus points if it doubles as a carry on. My go-to is the Lowepro passport sling.  Don't forget your camera and charger!
2.. reusable water bottle Did you know that water is one of the most expensive commodities in the world? Not only that, one-time use plastic water bottles are really bad for the environment. When travelling, I prefer to bring my own water bottle to refill. You can fill it yourself once you pass security at the airport, and most cities have public drinking fountains for a convenient refill.
3.. snacks I am a snacker, constantly picking at food throughout the day instead of eating big meals. I am somewhat adventurous when trying new foods, but when the destination is unknown, I also prefer to bring a few of my favourite snacks (think trail mix, candies), just in case. But don't go overboard on the snacks - they still have to fit in your suitcase!
4.. good book Whether you're taking a long flight, or lounging on the beach, a good book, or two, is key! [side note: has anyone read the 'new' book by Harper Lee? I heard it's really good!]
5.. sunglasses Whether you are headed to a sunny destination, or even a snowy one, sunglasses are a must to reduce glare and UV damage to your eyes. All the better to see the sights with my dear.

What items are essential when you pack for vacation?

Journal Swap Creative [Linkup]

This month I joined the Journal Swap Collective, from Love the Here and Now and Now and Sage. I was partnered with Rebecca from The Adventures of Bug and Boo, a former expat and new mama of 2 beautiful girls.

Since I don't get out into nature as often as a I wish, Rebecca brought a little piece of nature to me with this beautiful green tree embossed journal. Her card said it all, "Mar - here's hoping that when you're not surrounded by nature your heart still sings all the same. I thought this journal would bring a little piece of the outdoors inside. Happy writing!" Rebecca captured who I am and what I'm about in this journal perfectly.

There's no arguing that I've struggled moving from a city where in five minutes you could be roaming free, to a city where the only place you can roam in five minutes is surrounded by concrete. Despite the differences and the longing to be outdoors as much as possible, I think I've done pretty well. So, this journal will be all about gratitude, reminding myself that even though there will be challenges, be gracious for what life has given you. I am gracious to have had the experiences I have had, and to be living, working and playing in such a great city.  
The first entry? My current view - sitting outside on my parents' back patio, listening to the sounds of the birds in the trees and the frogs in the nearby pond, all while watching the sun set over Lake Huron, with a glass of red wine in hand. I am gracious for this peaceful, relaxing and drop dead gorgeous escape. 

"Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better." - Albert Einstein
Joining a creative like this one is a great way to meet like-minded people from across the world. It is also a great way to expand your blogging community, and your creative side. A big thank you for Rebecca for sending me this beautiful journal, and to Anne and Cassie for starting this creative collective.

Do you have a journal?

What Inspires Your Senses? 0.3 | Best of 2014

Today's What Inspires Your Senses? is all about the best of 2014. My favourite photos that inspired my sense of hearing, smell, feeling, sight, taste and my "sixth sense".

I hope you'll join along... The photos can be ones you've taken recently or those you've dug out of the archives, those you've taken in one location or in several and even those you've taken with a DSLR or on your smart phone. No photography skills are needed, just your imagination and creativity!

HEAR   |  Mother Nature's whispers.

SMELL  |  Crisp fall air.

FEEL  |  Overwhelmed by big city life.

SEE  |  The rainbow sky as the sun sets over Lake Huron.

TASTE  |  The freshness of the sea.

"SIXTH" SENSE  |  A happy heart with my loves by my side.

What inspires your senses?
How to participate:

1| Link up your blog post with your photos, starting at 7:00am EST.

2| Follow your host.

3| Link back to the party in your post, either with text or button below.

4| Check out as many blogs as you can to see what inspires others' senses!

5| Share on social media, using the hashtag #whatinspiresyoursenses!

6|  Link up will be open for 1 week.

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Show us what inspires your senses here:

5 Ways to Escape a Winter Rut

I've been in a real funk lately. At home, at work, just an all-around winter rut. Is anybody with me on that one?
Here are some ways that I escape the winter rut's hold, also known as "what I've been up to lately"...
Drink champagne on a Tuesday, while watching Frozen. Because why the hell not.

Get allergy tested and find out that after 10 years, you're not really allergic to shrimp, crab or lobster. Sigh.

After above appointment, buy yourself something real nice to make up for acting like a crazy lady at restaurants the past 10 years. (I now apologize to those I was rude to when asked the question, "Well how bad is your allergy?".)

Rock your ugly Christmas sweater. Because its the happiest time of the year.

And lastly, drool over pictures your sister sent you from her trip to Barbados with your parents. 

Nevermind that last one. Realizing you couldn't a) go on that trip to Barbados because of real-life adult problems, like deciding to buy a house, and b) see your sister, puts you right back into the funk.
But then Mother Nature decides to drop  a boat load snow and I'm quickly reminded how lucky I am to live in a place that experiences all four seasons, including winter. So I should probably stop my complaining.

How do you deal with the dreaded "winter funk"?

Don't forget to linkup your photos on December 31 for this month's "What Inspires Your Senses?". Interested in co-hosting in the future? Check this out. 

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What Inspires Your Senses? 0.2

"What Inspires Your Senses?" is back for round 2! Thank you to everyone that participated in October. Let's make this month bigger and better!
If you're not familiar with WIYS, on the last Wednesday of every month, I will challenge you to select 5 of your favorite personal photographs - one that best describes each of your 5 senses: see, smell, taste, touch and hear. As an added challenge, come up with one for the "sixth sense", an open-ended category to interpret your own way. The photos can be ones you've taken recently or those you've dug out of the archives, those you've taken in one location or in several and even those you've taken with a DSLR or on your smart phone. No photography skills are needed, just your imagination and creativity!
Let's get to it...
I was recently doing some reminiscing, looking at photos from our ultimate road trip, the 4500+ mile journey from Alaska to Toronto. The road trip was total sensory overload - the scenery was a visual buffet and the car was filled with emotions as we left the place we called home for three years. Here's what inspired my senses on our long road trip home.HEAR: Nothing but the open road 

Road to Whitehorse, Yukon

SMELL: Relaxation in the Liard River Hot Springs

Liard River Hot Spring, British Columbia

FEEL: Sad for these orphan brown bear cubs 

Somewhere in northern British Columbia

SEE: This iconic Canadian landmark 

Rouleau, Saskatchewan

TASTE: Wisconsin cheddar and Alaskan smoked salmon

Eau Claire, Wisconsin

"SIXTH" SENSE: Love for my road trip partner 

Jasper National Park, Alberta

Meet your co-host!

Connect with Sheryl here:  Blog  |  Bloglovin  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  

What inspires your senses?
How to participate:

1| Linkup your blog post with the photos that inspire your senses.

2| Follow your host (Mar @ t.o. & fro) & cohost (Sheryl @ How To Make a Life).

3| Link back to the party in your post, either with text or button below.

4| Check out as many blogs as you can to see what inspires others' senses!

5| Share on social media, using the hashtag #whatinspiresyoursenses!
6|  Linkup will be open for 1 week.

<div align="center"><a href="http://intothealaskanwild.blogspot.ca" title="t.o. & fro"><img src="http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag132/walesy26/linkup350x350_zps30246924.jpg" alt="t.o. & fro" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Mark you calendar for the next opportunity to linkup on Wednesday, December 31!Interested in co-hosting in the future? Check this out. 

An InLinkz Link-up