Real, Not Ideal

July has been another month of transition. I’ve had to go from working to not working anymore. I’ve had to consider the best ways to make a routine work for me while also helping out around the house. I’ve seen friends and made plans for the future. I’ve interviewed for a couple jobs and I’m anxiously awaiting the results. I’ve been busy! When I look back, these are my highlights. 1.       Canada Day I get the hesitancy about Canada Day. We’re celebrating the beginning of a country that is based in stolen land and robbed culture. I’m taking a course on Indigenous Canada right now that delves into the true history of Canada. It’s an important history and the outcome of it has affected my own family. However, I do think there is a place to celebrate the country I’ve grown up in while also respecting where it came from. I love celebrating Canada Day by being around people I love, and that is what I’ll continue to do. 2.       Article ...

               Yesterday was my last official day of working in Castleford. That brings tears to my eyes. I should be having a leaving party or something right now. I’m really sad! I spent a lot of yesterday crying and feeling really sorry for myself. It's the end of an (albeit short) era.  I’ve taken a long time to reflect on this past year and collate some of the things I’ve learned. I’ve been doing these posts for a while. On last year's post, I gave some stellar advice (in my humble opinion), and I stand by all of it. This year, things have been a roller coaster. I’ve learned a lot.   1.       You never know what help is out there unless you ask. Rosie is the one that told me this initially. I have learned this on two occasions. There was a time this year where marking was piling up. We had difficult exams to mark, books to mark, and I was staying at school until 8:00pm. E...

This is a bit of a shorter reading list this month. In last month's post , there were a lot of books because I was in quarantine – I didn’t have much else to do! This month, I’ve been working a little more and I’ve started an online course that I’m loving. I’m just busier now! I’ve also started to read more books on a semi-professional basis. I’m part of a couple websites that have opportunities to get paid for book reviews. It’s something I already do, and I love reading, so I decided to expand on my work. If you’re an author or you know an author willing to pay someone for book reviews, give them my email! The Flat Share – Beth O’Leary – 4 Stars                I adored this book so much. I’m always hesitant to get on board with trendy books, but maybe I should do it more often. My reasoning is that most people don’t know what good writing is (sorry), and my brain can’t just enjoy a badly written book. This boo...

               Well, I have not posted a goals update post since April . I mentioned in that last goals update post that I was struggling a lot. We were only just into lockdown and I was struggling with anxiousness and uncertainty.                As a result of that, I threw myself into routine.   I made myself a daily checklist of things I wanted to do in a day to make myself feel good. It involved a daily dose of cleaning and tasks to keep my home life in control as well as puzzles and working out that was good for my personal life. I just did it. I’ve said over and over again that I’m not someone who’s good with routine. Yet, I did it. I think it was my reaction to losing all control of my life.                Since moving back home , I’ve lost all semblance of that ro...

                    When I was saving the document for this blog post, I smiled when I wrote the date. I’ve been home for nearly a month. Things have felt better than they have since March. I’ve started to sink into a routine (more on that later), and I get to see all the people I’ve been missing.                There were SO MANY good things about this month that I had a hard time narrowing it down. My sticky note where I keep my list has been scribbled over and re-written so many times. For that, I am grateful. 1.       Home This is the over-arching favourite of the month. After I got my last suitcase a few days ago (it has been an absolute nightmare), I finally feel settled in. The first thing I did when I got home was shower and make tea as a homage to my now second home, but I certainly feel more comfortable here.  2. ...

At the moment of writing this, I’m suffering from a mild burn from poorly applied sunscreen. It seems silly to write about the wonders of spring when it’s so hot out but here we are. Spring was lockdown season. From my birthday weekend on, things shut down all around me. School ceased being a school. I went on a whirlwind journey of anxiousness about coming home . However, I’ve managed to make the most of it. These are some pictures from this season. As if I haven’t mentioned puzzles enough , I had to put one more picture on. I loved the amount of puzzle time I got during lockdown. I think I completed 8 puzzles? Maybe 9? Anyway, I did a lot of puzzling and drinking tea. Recognize this outfit? It’s the one I posted about bawling my eyes out for the monthly favourites when I found out I could come home . That same night, I made pizza, and it was a day of ups and downs for sure. A few times during lockdown, Matt and I played board games when we felt like doing something a little...

I've read so many books this month! It was all thanks to quarantine since I can't really do anything else. I'm grateful for the nice weather because I've been able to sit outside and read to my heart's content. Pure bliss. Enjoy! Becoming – Michelle Obama – 4 Stars          This sheer size of this book worried me. No matter what Michelle Obama wrote, people would buy it. I was concerned that the writing wouldn’t be that good. Just because someone is a fantastic speaker, it doesn’t mean they’re a good writer. My goodness, I was wrong. This book is a brilliant story. Obama puts her whole soul on the page as she tracks through her different life events. We get to know how much her family means to her. We see what she thought of Barack when she first met him. Her story is one of dedication and hope and strength. If you didn’t admire her before, you’ll admire her now. I think Obama has a personality that comes to life on the pages. There are humorous moments and ...