Life Lately

I hope everyone had a great New Years and is starting 2014 off with a bang. I will be the first to admit I didn't make any resolutions this year. Let's face it, most of us never keep them anyways, right? However, I do vow to make 2014 even better than 2013. I can't wait for the new adventures it brings.

Resolutions, or not, 2014 has been treating me pretty darn well so far. Mostly because I recently received a promotion at work and started in my new position this past Monday. The position means more responsibility and no more uniform. I don't know what made me more excited to hear. This past weekend I got to go work clothes shopping and while I love having my own identity at work, I will admit, shopping was not easy. After striking out in about 10 stores, I really started to appreciate the work uniform. 

The weather has been quite odd in our neck of the woods lately. And from reading the news, it doesn't sound like we're alone. I know it's been my first January in Canada since 2010, but I don't remember the freezing cold temperatures and gusty winds that we've been getting lately. It was so windy last night that I was afraid our condo door way up here on the 42nd was going to rip off. No word of a life, when it's that windy we move all of the valuables out of the living room in fear that the balcony door will bust open and suck everything out. It's pretty scary! And they say climate change isn't real...

The most important thing to notice in the above pictures is the "real feel"... -32 in Toronto and +37 in Anchorage. I know we're 4 hours apart, but really Mother Nature?! Is this a joke or your sick way of punishing us for leaving Alaska? I enjoy winter but I wouldn't be disappointed if spring came a little earlier, strictly for an enjoyable morning walk to the bus stop. I'm kind of getting tired of doing the one-eyed squint because I have brain freeze and having to worry about mascara running down my cheeks.

Cold weather, and complaining, aside, here's a little bit more of life lately,

1//  Hibachi dinner for New Years.

2//  Early morning sunrise over Toronto, through a dirty bus window.

3//  My view.

4//  First sunset of 2014.

5//  My little chef has perfected pizza dough.

6//  Yummy dinner celebrating a promotion - steak, scallops, sweet potatoes and bokchoy.

How has your 2014 been so far?

Black Socks & a Weekend Recap

It was officially our last weekend before hockey starts and I start working on Saturdays, and the weather sucked. The plan was to sleep in, but apparently when your new routine means a 6am wakeup time, your body thinks sleeping in means 7:30am on a Saturday.  I wish someone warned me.

I sold my soul to the devil this weekend... I bought black socks. A 20 pack. For as long as I can remember, I've had a thing against black socks.  It's not an irrational fear, but it's definitely irrational.  They creep me out.  So much so that after Steve takes off his dress clothes when we get home from a game, he keeps the black socks on because he knows it bothers me. But, in the name of my work uniform, being more professional, and keeping my job, I had to surrender the white socks. Steve says they'll make me look "fresh", but you better believe those babies will be coming off the second I walk in the front door.

This weekend was fairly uneventful, so here's some really boring photos from the past few days:

1//  Ok so this pic isn't from the weekend, but look at that sunset.
2//  Joining the rat race.
3//  My new lunch view, the CN tower.
4//  Mill St pumpkin ale.
5//  I'm a fan of fall decor, but this pumpkin telling me "you only live once" is a little extreme.
6//  Stuck in the clouds.
7//  Loving the new KitchenAid and all things pumpkin.
8//  We're hooked on homemade bread.

Oh, we also finished Breaking Bad... mind blown!  What an amazing series, and I'm pretty sure the only one I've ever successfully watched beginning to end.

But back to the black socks - To balance the evil black socks with something good, I bought myself an immersion blender so that I could make one of my favorite fall recipes, root vegetable soup. I can't wait to post the recipe, along with another one of my faves later this week.

Have a good week friends!

My Escape

It was the place that I first discovered my love of the outdoors and this past weekend was my first time back in 3 years. It is my escape, the cottage. No matter what troubles you're facing or what's on your mind, they disappear when you're at the cottage.  It forces you to relax, and I can't complain about that.

Found this book from the 60s.  Love the beginning: "Children are natural explorers.  They have the true explorer's interest in their immediate surroundings as well as in faraway places, and they are eager to know why things are as they are." Amen.

Another escape of mine?  Scuba diving.

My dive buddies (aka my dad and sister) and I spent this past Friday exploring the Fathom Five National Marine Park.  A MUST DIVE for any avid diver, that doesn't mind a bit of cold water.

The water may have been chilly, but like the cottage, once you sink below the surface, you are immersed in a different world, and your troubles dissolve away.

Oh, this also happened this weekend...

1//  Found this gem of a puzzle at the cottage.  Do you think it's a sign? #takemeback #alaska

2//  Relaxation: oak heart & crossword. #cottagelife

3//  Just a couple chickens doing their banking in Tobermory.

My escape is where the sky is void of city lights and it is so dark you can almost reach out and touch the stars, where is so quiet all you can hear is the crackle of the fire, the chirp of the crickets and lapping on the waves on the shore. And, there is nothing better than falling asleep to the sound of the waves.

What's your escape?

weekend recap // i ♥ t.o.

We're counting down the number of weekends we have left this summer before hockey scoops us up and plops us in a new part of the world.  Safe to say, we're trying to take advantage.

This weekend the travels left us in Toronto, where we celebrated my bigger little sister's 22nd birthday. I love this city (and obviously my little sister). Another solid weekend in the books.

Thursday:

1//  Beaches Jazz Festival.
2//  FINALLY these have come to Canada. #marlarita


Friday + Saturday:

1//  Jays game for my sister's bday (that she didn't end up making because she had a photo shoot). #whereskendiddle
2//  Couple of SILs. #whereskendiddle
3//  One love T.O.
4//  Best hangover food: eggs benny/poutine combo.


Sunday Funday:

1// Cheers to beer at the Toronto Festival of Beers.
2// Beef jerky makes me happy.

1// Foodies - poutine and lobster rolls.
2// Found my limearitas.

1// Sibs.
2// My bigger little sister. #beforeshewasfamous

1// Beer snobs.
2// ♥

Happy 1 month anniversary to my hubby.  I know it's not much to celebrate, but it's hard to believe that amazing day was a month ago!  This summer is flying!

How was your weekend?

Linking up with Sami's Shenanigans for Weekend Shenanigans.

Weekend Update

Oh why hello Monday.  You came far too soon.  Can we please rewind back to Saturday? And get rid of all the snow Mother Earth decided to dump on us while you're at it?

Friday night I had a Zoo Snooze (Exactly how it sounds, we sleep over at the Zoo with a bunch of Scouts. Pretty fun.)  The night was beautiful - I could still see my hand in front of my face at 10pm and it was hoodie weather.  Little did I know that was Mother Earth's cruel way of teasing us, because when we woke up Saturday morning, there was at least a foot of snow on the ground.  My how fast things change around here.

And the snow keeps coming.  Another foot anticipated today.  I know, it's my own fault for getting my hopes too high after all of that sunny weather last week, but a girl can dream can't she?

Saturday was filled with hockey playoffs.  I love the atmosphere in the rink this time of the year.

Yesterday morning I dusted off my indoor soccer shoes (literally, there was dust on them) and played for the first time in 5 years.  It was exactly what I needed, pretty sure I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.  But I'm definitely paying for it this morning... hobbling around the apartment like a 90 year old and having Steve have to help me put pants on.  I'm hurting in places I didn't even know it was possible to hurt. By the time I recover it will be time to do it all over again. Worth it though :)

Yesterday was Wrestlemania.  Yes, we watch wrestling in apt 8. Go ahead, judge. I can probably name all of the wrestlers and have no shame in saying I was a little disappointed in the Rock/Cena match.  It lost me. The Rock is still pretty good looking though, so that made up for it.

Last night we went to bed before the sun had fully set.  There may be over a foot of snow on the ground, but its still spring.

How was your weekend?

Link up with Sami's Shenanigans for Weekend Shenanigans.

Weekend Recap: Celebrating the Frontier Spirit

It's been a while since we've gone on some type of adventure, or even had a Saturday that was hockey-free.  This is the first time in 3 years that Steve has been in town for the ceremonial start of the Iditarod.  So, we hit the streets of downtown Anchorage this past Saturday to take in two seriously Alaskan events that celebrate the frontier spirit, the ceremonial start of the Iditarod and Fur Rendezvous' Running of the Reindeer.  

Here's our Saturday in pictures:

Iditarod ceremonial start:

Fur Rondy's Running of the Reindeer:

Do I think these people are crazy for running with reindeer?  Slightly.  But in the 6 years this event has run, no one has been seriously injured... by a reindeer.  We definitely saw many people eat the ground though. Kudos to those people who can now check "running with reindeer" off their bucket lists.

Enjoy your week! I hope it's warmish and sunny!

Linking up with Sami's Shenanigans for Weekend Shenanigans.