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Monthly Favourites - November 2018

I cannot believe it is the end of November. This means it is one month closer to seeing my family and one more month that I have survived my first year of teaching! Things have been wild recently (as I’m sure you can tell by the severe lack of posts), so I have to catch you up as much as possible! 1.        Austria Trip I am working on making a wonderful travel post for you all about this trip. My two best friends from home came to see me at the beginning of the month since I had a week off, and I cannot begin to tell you how thankful I am for this trip. We go to see so many places and experience different cultures. For me, the most important part was just being with them. I’ve been craving friend time, and it means so much to me that they wanted to come see me. We now have some incredible memories to cherish. 2.        The Military Band at the Changing of the Guard Before we left for Austria, we had a couple days in London. I think the Changing of the Guard

November in Pictures

Hello everyone! Please exercise patience with me as I attempt to get my work-life balance in check. This week, you will get three of the usual posts. Who knows about the week after? I’m trying as hard as I can. I was a little worried about this post when I first sat down to write it. I wasn’t sure I had actually been doing enough things to warrant a whole post. The last time I wrote one in August , it was easy because I was out all the time in summer. At the moment, I’m struggling to make it out of the flat because I’m left with marking and chores (and sleeping) on the weekends. However, I was pleasantly surprised at what was on my phone. I simply had to put up this picture of Heidi, Natalie and I on our night out in Leeds. Back home, we always used to go out together. Since I live so close to all the cool bars, we had to take advantage of it. We danced for THREE hours. It had been about five months since I had a proper night out, and it was very much needed. A

How To Avoid Adulting Fails With Your Business

In the interest of being honest, I have to talk about some recent failures I have had as an adult. These are not massive, mind-blowing, life-ruining failures, but the ones that just kind of grind your gears. I also fully believe that there is a lesson in everything. I have learned an odd lesson through these experiences, but nevertheless, here we go. Experience One: When my mom was teaching me how to quilt , I got to a point where she was not around and the thread ran out. I had NO idea how to fix it and the manual for the sewing machine was no help. The pictures did not include every step, and the instructions were not accurate. I spent at least twenty minutes looking up instructions online and finding YouTube videos to give me an idea of how to fix it. Even then, I figured it by mistake. Experience Two: I have a tendency to break things or get things stuck. The other morning, I was SO sure that I got the bottom of my mini blender stuck. As it turns out, it wasn’t stuck a

7 Things to Know if You're Studying Abroad this Year

I’m going to go ahead and say I am a self-proclaimed expert on studying abroad at this point. I did for the first time three years ago in Leeds and last year in Cardiff . At this point, four of my friends (that I can remember) have reached out to me to ask for advice on the subject. All of this is to say – take my advice. I know what I’m doing. If you’ve read this blog for a while, you may have already heard some of the things I have to say. I wrote lessons learned in Leeds   and lessons learned in Cardiff posts after I completed the years. However, hindsight has given me even more to say on the matter to make your study abroad the best it can be. Also, congratulations on doing this. I mean, have you ever heard someone say they regretted studying abroad? 1.        Don’t hang out with solely international students. This is my biggest piece of advice. That’s why it’s number one. In my experienc e, international offices are great at hosting events and helping you

Book Review - My Little Ikigai Journal by Amanda Kudo

*I have been given this book as an ebook for free from NetGalley in exchange for a review. This journal-handbook is an absolutely wonderful guide to reflecting on your passions, what is important to you, and how to find meaning in life. I love the root notion: that finding your meaning in life is what will keep you alive and full of joy for as long as you live. The reflections are thoughtful, inspirational, and devoted to truly making you think about your life as you live it. The pages are beautiful and colourful. The artwork is absolutely stunning, and the activities aren’t time consuming (although there are exceptions). I am about halfway through the book, and I have already come to a better understanding of what brings me joy in life. I think this is a great companion for anyone who is feeling a little lost or can’t seem to find what brings meaning to their life. There are a few exercises that are difficult to accomplish (for example: ask a person you admire if you can

Goals for Autumn - Update

Guess who has been absolutely nailing adult life lately? It’s me! I am so proud of myself for what I have accomplished lately. A big moment for me was when I actually bounced back from a few days of setback. One of my biggest issues is that when I go off-track, I tend to stay off track. From Tuesday-Friday last week, I did not fulfil my daily duties. On Saturday, I went right back on board with everything. It’s a big deal for me. It means routines are really being established. Since my last post about my goals , I have really used the time I had left in the summer and post-surgery to the better myself. This is all about my updates. 1.        Read. A lot. Updated: Read One Book a Week. I have exceeded my goal of reading nine books in the summer. I am so happy that I signed up for Goodreads to keep track of and review the books I read. It’s just another platform to connect with like-minded people! Now, about this update. At the moment, I’m reading 100 pages a night

My Favourite Podcasts - 2018

Controversial opinion: I don’t really like music. I’m not one of those people who can listen to music at all hours of the day. I listen when I’m in the car for a long period of time or when I’m writing blog posts (it’s on in the background right now). My favourite band of all time is Walk Off the Earth , and I’m always a fan of musicals, but music just doesn’t have a place in my everyday life. Enter podcasts. I got into podcasts a few years ago, and they are my go-to listening companion. I like learning things about myself and listening to other people talk while I’m busy washing dishes or getting ready for the day. They make time go by so much faster, and it really does feel like there are friends around me all the time. The podcasts I like are typically funny and conversational as opposed to scripted. I’ve listening to some and then deleted them because they weren’t personal enough. Below are my favourite podcasts right now. This list has changed since I started, and I think

Monthly Favourites - August 2018

Well, that’s it folks. Summer is pretty much over. Goodbye ice cream and tan lines; hello cosy sweaters and warm drinks. Also, hello starting a new job (hyperventilating). I don’t feel ready. I have yet to set up my classroom (that’s happening in a couple of days), and I’m really just starting to get into my own routine (these past couple weeks have been the most consistent I’ve ever been with working out). I’m still waiting for the nerves to set in. I’m mostly just really excited about starting this adventure. Anyway, August didn’t actually feel like it flew by. It feels like I’ve lived a thousand lives in one month. I’ve been a patient, a daughter, a friend, a traveller, a big-leaper, and an independent woman. It has been crazy to look back and see the roller coaster of emotions I’ve felt this month. These favourites are what got me through it. 1.        Herb Garden I can say – with conviction – that I’m completely obsessed with my little herb garden. How c

August in Pictures

Since last month's post went pretty well, and quite a few people viewed it, I’m going to go ahead and declare this a new monthly post! I have been loving going through all the pictures on my phone to see what I got up during the month. It’s also making me more mindful about what I’m taking pictures of. I’m never the person who whips out their phone to take pictures all the time (travelling being the exception) , so I’ve been choosing my moments carefully. What do I want to remember? What emotion is this moment connected to? Curating this post is a great way to connect to the way I’ve been feeling this month. The one thing people who know me understand is that I am the queen of grilled cheese. I spearheaded #grilledcheesefriday a few years ago, and it’s something I’ve carried on since. Once I could finally eat solid food again, I was thrilled to bring my weekly ritual back. On the August long weekend, my dad and I went on a little canoe trip. We honestly can’t

Book Review - How (Not) to Marry and Duke by Felicia Kingsley

*I received this book from NetGalley for free in exchange for a review How (Not) to Marry a Duke by Felicia Kingsley is not my usual pick. I normally veer away from trope-filled vomit-inducing romantic chick-lit. I am happy to admit that this novel exceeded my (admittedly low) expectations. The original title for this book was A Marriage of Convenience which describes the plot. Jemma and Ashford come from vastly different social realms. Ashford is a high and mighty Duke with an extravagant lifestyle and eccentric friends. Jemma is a hard-working, stubborn woman who has luck (and a massive inheritance) fall into her lap. Jemma’s strong character and Ashford’s whiny habits give way to a story where the gender roles are reversed. They are forced to marry each other to save their own lifestyles, and their opposition is clear. Jemma is a breath of fresh air in an uppity society, and Ashford learns how to dial back his excessive life. To be honest, there was a lot about this boo

Book Review - In The Name of the Children by Jeffrey L. Rinek and Marilee Strong

*I have received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for a review. In a conscious effort to read books outside my comfort zone, I chose to read In The Name of the Children by Jeffrey L. Rinek and Marilee Strong. Jeffrey Rinek is a former FBI agent working in the missing and murdered children’s section of the department. This true crime memoir is not something I would normally pick up. In fact, it’s something I normally avoid. This story is about Rinek’s time at the FBI following some of the cases that most made an impression on society or him. Rinek shares heart-breaking and harrowing stories about the literal scum of the Earth. There are stories of eye-opening betrayals, parents who lack love towards their children, manipulations, and also the story of the emotional strain it caused him over the years. There were moments that made me angry and also well up with tears. This is Rinek’s apology letter to his family for the way his role affected them, and a love letter t

MacGregor Point Provincial Park

Hi everyone! Sorry for the accidental hiatus (and so much for doing well on my summer goals) . After a wonderful weekend camping, I am ready to share what I have done and get right back on track. I have really been getting into the idea of travelling lately. However, living in Canada makes it difficult to get anywhere quickly. When a friend of mine asked if Matt and I wanted to join her and a group of friends on a camping trip to MacGregor Point Provincial Park , I jumped at the chance. Camping is the perfect way to see and experience Canada at its best. I used to go with my family when I was younger, so it was great to go back to what I love. We stayed in a Yurt for this trip. I had no idea what to expect, and it was great. It slept six people, and the actual site had loads of space (the people beside us had about three vehicles there throughout the day). On the first night, we had our fire and the ultimate S’mores (I highly suggest graham cracker and Mars B