2018 Thank you, next!

2018 was a year. 

This year's theme is routine.

Along with setting my theme for the year I like to recap the past 365 days with a look through my instagram and pull out some of my favourite moments from each month.

January The year started off with a wonderful visit from my former doing-things friend from Europe, and we did all the things in Toronto. (Hope I get to see her again here soon)
February was a good month as I got to take a quick trip to San Antonio, Tx and visit with another good friend of mine
March went to see the Toronto Zoo to see the last of the Panda bears (it only took me 5 years) before they were packed up and sent to Calgary to continue their Canadian tour
April meant a new venture, cat-sitting! This month was a funny period and was the catalyst (excuse the pun) for what was to come later in the year.
May, I found myself in search of the Sakura blossoms, these were in Mississauga's Kariya Park

June introduced goat yoga at the village and every Thursday, I got to spent time with these adorable baby pygmy goats
July I found out that I got a job and was moving to Saskatoon! And then I found out that I got a job closer to home
August my time at Black Creek Pioneer Village came to an end this month and I knew I was going to miss it

October is for Oktoberfest. Always a good time.
November is 3 months at my new job, new home, new life.
December was busy month, including having to give my poor baby a bath twice weekly as per vet's instructions. But having her with me makes me incredibly grateful.

Happy New Year!

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2016 is so last year,

Here's my annual Instagram year in review, where I look at my year that was as represented through my favourite insta-shots from each month. 

Each new year I select a theme to focus on rather than setting myself up for failure with resolutions that I know I won't actually hold to. Although each year gets a new word, really I just layer them on to the previous year's word. 2015's theme was 'Explore', 2016's word was 'Joy'. 

I think I did very well at finding, creating, maintaining and spreading that joy. I was much happier this year than last (I think it helped that I did some travelling), but still I feel like there's more to be done.

So that's why I've decided 2017's theme will be 'Passion'.

Focusing on the things that I enjoy doing and creating inspiration through my passion.

December: Wearing a ballgown and teaching a Victorian dance. Felt like a princess in this dress.
November: Visiting Honest Ed's one last time
October: Another costume, this time for Halloween; Rosie the Riveter.
September: My favourite llama pic from Peru

August: Food from the CNE that actually made it on to Buzzfeed
July: Betty in her life jacket on Lake Champlain, VT
June: Donkey Day at the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada

May: First day of the season of the Toronto Flower Market
April: Blue Jays baseball game with a gang
March: Checking out the Winter Stations exhibit on The Beaches

February: Homemade afternoon tea
January: So hard to pick just one picture from my trip to England, God's Own Junkyard in Walthamstow Central, UK

Happy New Year!

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Vermont in Instarecap 2016 Edition

This was my first time visiting Vermont in the summer in over 3 years. When I first returned from England we made a special trip down to Vermont to see the fall colours, but Vermont in each season is so different than that last, one cannot be compared with another. Not really. I was very glad to be getting back for this season. Getting back to the creemees, the lobster dinners, the swimming, the pedestrian street shopping, and the nature. Here is a instareview of my summer trip.

Top left to right: Timbits on the way down, Safety first with Betty at the water, family dinner out at the new Waterworks, eat corn at Paul Mazza's, Sunset over Lake Champlain.
Bottom left to right: Old Gold is a fave vintage shop, boats on the Bay, colourful kayaks, Black Raspberry Creemee from Broadacres, traditional lobster night

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2015, it's been a slice

Hiya 2016, it's lovely to meet you! I can tell, you're going to be awesome.

As you may have figured out, I'm a huge fan of Instagram and last year I did a review of the year that was through my Instagram posts. I decided to do the same this year. It's definitely quiet on the absurdity that is London, but enjoyable and memorable nonetheless.

This year I've decided my theme for 2016 will be "Joy".
Finding it. Creating it. Maintaining it. Spreading it.

Last year's theme, 'Explore', helped me continue to put myself out there, trying different things and not get stuck in a rut. I went to the Taste of the Danforth for my first time as well as Nuit Blanche. Two events I've been wanting to try out for years and I finally have this year. I went to parties where I only knew one person and MET STRANGERS! And did a lot of general enjoying of Canada and Canadian things.

December: Betty in lights
November: TbyDaniel local tea shop stop with my mum
October: Halloween costumes
September: Girls weekend up in cottage country
August: A wtf moment when a autumn leaf is spotted on my way to work

July: Sangria at St. Lawrence Market
June: Love a bric-a-brac store
May: Baseball! How 'bout them Jays?
April: CN Tower and Skydome

March: Sugarbush visit near Terra Cotta. Maple Syrup in snow, OH SO CANADIAN!
February: Heat Fest, keeping warm on one of the coldest days in 2015
January: Betty on a snowy day, but didn't care cause she had a stick

Happy New Year!

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2014, I wish I could marry you

When you look back at the year gone by if it makes you laugh and cry its been a great year. I feel like this sentiment is from Sex and the City (does anyone know?), but I think it holds true. When I think back to the beginning of this year it feels so far away. This year was jam packed of activities, travelling, friends and much love. When I returned to London in January from my holidays in Canada I mentally had started the dreaded countdown to the end of my visa. With that fire lit under my arse I made the most of my every spare moment and constantly consulted, checked off, and added to my "Things to do and see before I leave" list (often crossing one thing off just to discover something else and adding 3 more items).

As difficult as the transition back to Canada has been, I wouldn't change a moment of this past year (even 2 years). The most incredible people came into my life, adding such value and love. I will keep them in my heart forever and sincerely hope to retain them in my life. (New Years Resolution #1: make a strong effort to keep in touch with long distance friends)

I have decided my theme for 2015 will be "Explore" 

It's easy to settle into the easy and the comfortable, I do it all the time, especially in Canada. So this year I hope to continue exploring as I have done with my time in London. The exploration enriched my life and I am the better for it.

Here is my 2014 in instagram review. It really was a good year...

December: DT Brampton Christmas Tree

November: Snuggling with the Bettydog

October: The colour of autumn in Ontario

September: Last visit to Cambridge with my soul sister and she proved to be an excellent hostess

August: Trying on an Edwardian style corset at the Horniman Museum

July: Good old 4th of July BBQ with American foods like s'mores

June: Traveling to Dover to see the cliffs with my 'doing things buddy'

May: Provence picnic with some lovely ladies

April: The Oxford and Cambridge goat race at Spitalfields City Farm

March: Science Afternoon Tea at the Ampersand Hotel

February: Never tired of this sight! Loved seeing it on my walk to the DLR from a night out having ribs and cider.

January: A great start to the year, playing poker, being jet lagged, and spotting fireworks all around from our rooftop viewing post.

Thank you my friends IRL and online for making me feel connected and appreciated throughout the year. I love you all dearly! 

Happy New Year!

Open Letter to Instagram

Dear Instagram;

You've broken my heart. I thought we had something, something real, something that would never go away because it felt so right. Then 30 April happened, in something that I refer to as the moment my world went dark...or a lot less sepia toned  #tmmwwd...oallst! My 'vintage' iPhone 3G could no longer update to be compatible with your new operating system. 

Some might have called my level of interest in you an obsession, but not this kid. Sure I was checking in every couple of hours and was always on the lookout for a great instashot, but I wasn't different than any other Instagram user. I even encouraged my technologically disinclined parents to join--although in hindsight, this might have been an error in judgement. Then you betrayed me, you changed and my life hasn't been the same since.

Picture of my food I was forced to post on Facebook instead. Notice the distinct lack of filters.

Going cold turkey was hard. I might have raved about the indignity of it all when others around me instagramed #thishappened, I might have twitched slightly when they held their phones over their food #Iatethis and I had to just sit there only EATING mine. Seeing the world around me with retro-like filters lasted a lot longer than I'd care to admit. I had convinced myself that I was most upset because I no longer could keep in touch with my friends and family back home, they could no longer follow my big move to the UK; #erininscotland, #erinincambridge. Really though, these pictures were the same old retro looking photos of the tea I was drinking, food I was eating, and selfies just in a new location. 
In all seriousness though, when I was first cut off, I felt disconnected and lost. I felt like I no longer was contributing to something bigger. I liked being part of that Instagram community, and it is a community with meetups, fans, and its own little place in our social media consumed world we now live in. I'm not all that disconnected after all.
So I guess I must thank you Instagram since #tmmwwd...oallst, I have rediscovered the freedom I had B.I. (before Instagram). I can again enjoy my food, standing still in interesting locations #fromwhereIstand and noticing funny signs when out and about without the pressure of having to take an artsy, vintagey photo while no one is looking. 

Warm regards,

A former Instagrammer

#fromwhereIstand

On a completely different note, anyone know how much an iPhone 5 is going for these days?

For further reading:

Pictures of Hipsters Taking Pictures of their Food
Adventurous Kate's Evolution on Instagram
Sing along to the Instagram Song

Instagram Is
10 Instagrammers not to be

Fun travels!

Cambridge Living in Intra-Review

I'm settling into my temporary new digs while I look for work in London. Fingers crossed for me! When I'm not stressing about being unemployed, I've been exploring the city.

Top left to bottom:
1. My home for the next few weeks.
2. At The Orchard in Grantchester.
3. Punting on the River Cam.
4.The walk to Grantchester was very close to the 'wildlife'.
5. Cider and a ruby game.
6. Cricket in the field.
7. Tea and scones with clotted cream. mmmm
8. Pancake breakfast
9. Plum cake for lunch. As you do.
10.  Pottery at the Fitzwilliam Museum.
11. Coke and a hurling game.
12. The stained glass window at the King's College chapel.

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Fun travels!

Scotland in Insta-Review

Top left to bottom:
1. Old timey photo at the Riverside Museum, Glasgow.
2. Rainy day walk to The People's Palace Museum.
3. The soup of the trip was Lentil. Had here at the People's Palace.
4. Vitamin C drops makes an watery orange crush type drink.
5. My new purple suitcase.
6. Tunnock's marshmallow tea cakes were a nice consolation for getting sick.
7. Map of the town of Stirling.
8. Costumed interpreter at Stirling Castle.
9. Hand made case for your 'Aye-phone'. Ha!
10. "That statue has been pyloned." in front of the GoMA, Glasgow.
11. I miss Betty and have been seeing dog things everywhere I go. Dog dish at the Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.
12. Babysitting at the Museum of Scotland.
13. Tea on the train.
14. Heading back to Glasgow, first attempt to Cambridge denied.
15. Some of the flooding along the rail line, east coast England.

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Fun travels!

Vermont in Pictures

Vacations are great, but never long enough. I spent a great week away with perfect beach weather and perfect rainy afternoons for shopping. The week finished off with a bbq at my 93 year old grandmother's house with both sides of my family coming together to eat food and catch up.

In pictures top left to right: 

     1. packing for the week

     2. long drive up to Montreal

     3. my old analog camera I played with all week

     4. my drink of choice

     5. there was a mug there that looked just like Betty

     6. rainy day

     7. beach day

     8. black raspberry creemee

     9. I LOVE VERMONT sugar

    10. watch for 1920's children playing

    11. one of many bike rides along the lake

    12. what one wears on a cool rainy day to go shopping

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Fun travels!