Real, Not Ideal

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...

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...

*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...

*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...

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...

My summer plans post has been the most read post in all of July (go me). Today, I wanted to update you guys about my progress. I suppose those plans were more like goals, and I really need to keep myself accountable for those things to work out. Like I originally said, I wanted to use this summer to get my life in order and set some solid routines in place. 1.        Read. A lot. I have definitely done this! I mentioned in my last post that I had read seven books so far. By the end of the day, I will be finishing another book. I’ll definitely exceed my summer goal and set myself in a good position for finishing my end of year goal. 2.        Journal I have been excellent at journaling this summer. I’ve missed maybe three or four days (particularly recovery days when all I was doing was napping and watching TV), but I’ve kept my future readers up to date on everything I’ve been up to. I’ve also started do...

I cannot tell you how excited I am to be telling you about this book. I mentioned it in June's monthly favourites , and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. In fact, this book has ruined a lot of other books for me. I’ve read seven books since then, and I haven’t been able to enjoy them as much as I normally would. I know I’m talking this book up a lot, but I truly loved it. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman centres around Eleanor Oliphant, a woman no one would bat an eye at. She is a loner with a rigid structure in life and a mysterious past. Through the opening paragraphs, we see a quiet acceptance of the mundane: go to work, be alone, eat the same meals, drink away your misery on weekends and repeat. As she goes about her life, Eleanor makes nuanced observations about human nature that are amusing but entirely true (why do women wear heels they aren’t comfortable in?). There are questions raised about her father, what kind of institution her verball...