2018 Best Bits

In 2015 I blogged a personal list about my favourite bits that took place over the course of the year. It's a nice little reminder for me of how my year went IRL and on the blog. This year is no different and here is my 2018 best bits (if you're interested here is 2017, 2016 and 2015).

Most popular Instagram photo:
Surprisingly my most popular post was from my winterlicious dessert at the Royal York in Toronto. It was part of a terrible date, but lovely sorbet nonetheless.

Favourite Moment:
Not a specific moment but my favourite thing to have happened in 2018 was all the cat sitting I did. It was a gig I fell into this past year, but I thoroughly enjoyed doing it. Staying in Toronto, imagining I could afford to live in the places I was living and spending time with sweet little kitties.

Most popular blog post:
Blogging kinda fell by the wayside this past year, especially these past few months.
Did you notice?
I know my mum did, when she saw me open up a draft page over the Christmas holidays she excitedly asked, "are you writing a post?!" She's my biggest fan.
So although there was a limited number of posts, I was well pleased to see my 6 Must do walks of London as my most popular post of 2018. Check it out, it's a good one!

Favourite trip:
I only took the one trip this year, but honestly, it was great! Reconnecting with a good friend and exploring a new place, San Antonio, Texas. We obviously went to The Alamo and did the Riverwalk, but I loved our day trips to towns outside of San Antonio. Catching a band at the Gueren Hall, a pint in the German hall in New Braunfels, it really whetted my apatite to head back again and explore more of the Hill Country.

Best meal:
Getting in right under the wire, Christmas dinner on Boxing Day in Montreal. It wasn't the food so much as it was the company and atmosphere. I was feeling a bit blah this year, until we arrived at my aunt and uncle's place. As the noise and activity grew in the familiar home so did my Christmas spirit.

Happiest moment:
Is it terrible that I had a hard time identifying my happiest moment of 2018. Looking back at the year, there were some great moments (and some not so great) and I'm not in the same spot I started out in this time last year, which is all kinds of great. I have a new job that I enjoy, my own apartment with a balcony, and a new town to explore.

Saddest moment:
Leaving Black Creek Pioneer Village after working there for 4 years. I do wish it could have provided me with a sustainable income, because quite honestly where else do you get to dress up in a pretty dress, frolic with livestock, interact with the public and make things with your hands for work? I already miss this place, but I'm glad to have had the opportunity to work here, I learned some great things and made some great friends which I hold dear.

What were your best bits of 2018?

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2017 Done and Dusted

Photo by Michał Grosicki on Unsplash

This year has been a bit of a struggle. I went into 2017 with a bang and had some amazing trips, spent time with friends and found more fulfillment within my job. There were also some lows and struggles. Focusing on my theme, passion which I had set for myself last December, was one of my constant challenges and I was hard on myself about it. 

I continue to build and be mindful of previous year's themes; 2015 was explore (I'm heading into 2018 with a flight already booked!), 2016 was joy (I kept this little list close to me to keep finding my joy), 2017 was passion (did some exciting things with my passion of writing and this little passion project of mine). 

2018 I think is a year that I'm going to slow down, take stock, and make some big decisions. I hope this time next year I won't be in the same place I am now. I hope I'm happier, more balanced, and heading in a healthy direction. This is what I want to work on this year and that's why I think I have to focus on myself and self-care as this year's theme.

Do you set intentions, make resolutions, create a theme or just ignore all that all together and just get on with the year?

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: Starting the year with some slow weekends. As the year went on, I got fewer and fewer of these. I look forward to starting this again in the new year.
February: Forever my favourite valentine!
March: Winterstations at The Beaches. It was sooooo cold, but I do love outdoor art.
April: Took a trip to the UK and Ireland. This photo is from the highly instagrammable restaurant (and loo), Sketch.

May: Jazzy fish! Went to Ripley's Aquarium for some music and underwater creatures. I didn't think I'd like it as much as I did.
June: Mac and Cheese Fest! Long lines and over priced food. Might not go again next year.

July: Got my art on this month and made a little bee in scratch board.
August: Attended the Toronto Cider Fest (and hosted a Giveaway).This I will for sure be attending next year.
September: Also a highlight of my year was going to Newfoundland. It was a great trip that included visiting St. John's, Niagara-on-the-Lake, and a friend's wedding in London, Ont.

November: Spent some time at the AGO. It's a gorg building.
October: Oktoberfest. It's now a tradition.
December: Decorated this sweet little tabletop tree.  

Happy New Year!

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2017 Best Bits

In 2015 I blogged a personal list about my favourite bits that took place of the course of the year. It's a nice little reminder of how my year went IRL and on the blog. This year is no different and here is my 2017 best bits (if you're interested here is 2016 and 2015).

Most popular Instagram photo:
was from my trip to the Isle of Arran's Giants Graves (post to come).

Favourite Moment:
Guest hosting the monthly travel link up by Emma, Polly and . 10 things was the theme and I wrote 10 Reasons to Travel.

Most popular blog post:
Not surprisingly it was my first ever blog giveaway to the Toronto Cider Festival this summer.

Favourite trip:
Hands down was my spring trip to the UK and Ireland. Visiting friends will always make a trip for me. (Posts to come).

Best meal:
While in St. John's, Newfoundland we went out to brunch at Blue on Water and had a traditional Newfoundland breakfast which consisted of toutons, sausages, baked beans and molasses. It was dense and amazing.

Happiest moment:
Finally touching down in the east coast of Canada. I can now say that I've been to more than two provinces in this country. Newfoundland was beautiful and friendly. I also found the place where I will one day write my great Canadian novel. (Posts to come, broken record I know!)

Saddest moment:
There were ups and downs and there have been some truly horrific and sorrowful moments this past year, but nothing stands out as the saddest moment. Maybe that speaks to the kind of year it was.

What were your best bits of 2017?

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2017 Travel Wishlist and Link Up

I'm going to limit myself to five because really this list could go on forever. But if someone was paying me to travel here's my list of top dream destinations.

1. Iceland
This has been on the top of my list for a very long time. One of these days I will be able to cross it off.

2. Scottish Islands
I once did a bus tour of the Scottish Highlands and it really was just a teaser of the wilderness that was up there. I need to explore it!

3. Turks and Caicos
Must have a warm destination on a list like this and a place that is super into Canadians? Even better.

4. St. Pierre and Miquelon
You mean I can visit 'France' and just be 25km off the coast of Newfoundland? Buy me a ticket!

5. Japan
Just cause. Who wouldn't want to see Japan? A friend of mine recently went and her pics made me super jelly!

At the beginning of each month, I like to take part in the monthly travel link up hosted on the incredible blogs by Angie, Emma,  and this month's special co-host Polly. You can join in too by leaving a comment below, checking out other posts on the link up, or adding your own post to the widget now until January 7th.

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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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2016 Best Bits

This is my most favourite time of year, the month of December is filled with Christmas cheer and more importantly LISTS. All the lists. You have Top Lists, Countdown Lists, Prediction Lists. So many lists!

With the year it's been, you sometimes just have to find the joy in the little things. And one of my little things is making my own lists. So like last year I'm doing my Best Bits of the year list and it goes something like this;

Most popular Instagram photo:

Was from the Toronto Christmas Market 

Favourite moment:

Attending my second Oktoberfest in Kitchener/Waterloo, already looking forward to next year's trip.

Most popular blog post: 

Why you should visit Bruges (thanks to @Visit_Bruges)

Favourite Trip:

Considering I had several trips this year, I don't know if I could pick just one. It was nice heading back to the UK for a brief visit; hitting up London, Paris, Cambridge, Glasgow and Edinburgh. In the summer I went back to VT for the first time in several years. Oh the nostalgia.  Just recently went on 2 girls trips; one to Vegas (sensory overload!) and South America. So yeah, any of those!

Best meal:

Best breakfast before 7am from Billingsgate Fish Market; kippers, builders tea, and buttered Wonder bread.

Happiest moment:

Eating tacos will always make my happiest moment list

Saddest moment:

Saying goodbye to this face

Selfie game on point

What were the best bits of your 2016?

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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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2015's Best Bits

Every year has it's highs and lows, but 2015 seemed to be a particularly challenging one, personally and universally. Looking back on the year (which I like to do with a scroll through my Instagram posts) I was reminded that it was my first full year back in Canada, trying to reconnect to my homeland, looking for work and honestly, looking for friends. I was also reminded that 2015 had some good bits to it, worthy of a personal list

Most popular Instagram photo 

was from Nuit Blanche 

Favourite moment:

Cottage weekends with girlfriends

From a cold beach weekend on Lake Huron

Most popular blog post 

2015 travel wish list

Favourite Trip

Visiting and staying in Old Quebec City

Best meal

The mac and cheese sushi from the Mac and Cheese Fest

Happiest moment

Attending Oktoberfest in Kitchener/Waterloo

Saddest moment

saying good bye to this face

tandem bike ride anyone? My favourite Brit visited this summer and looked so fetch in my hat

What were your best bits of 2015?

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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!

Year of the Horse 2014

Unless you currently live under a rock, then you are aware that it is the Chinese New Year which started on Friday, January 31 with the first new moon of the calendar year and continues for 15 days. According to Chinese zodiac tradition each year in a 12 year cycle is named after the animal it is associated with. This year is the year of the horse; people born in the year of the horse are said to be;

"animated, active and energetic – they love being in a crowd. They are quick to learn independence...and they have a straightforward and positive attitude towards life. They are known for their communication skills and are exceedingly witty." the guardian 

Good for you, horse people. FYI if you are looking for love this year avoid Mr. Ed, rats, oxen, and rabbits instead search for potential mates in tigers, goats, or dogs (OHMY!) you will like them.

The year of the horse is a year of decision and adventure. This is not a time to procrastinate and over think things. The horse is an action animal, so stop with the pep-talks and do already! Feel the energy of the horse and get your hands dirty, speak your mind and trust your instincts. 

Also:

Here are 8 lucky things to do for this New Year.

Bright and early *ahem* at 11:30 am I headed down to Trafalgar Square to check out the festivities happening in and around China Town with a few thousand of my closest friends. The parade had finished by this point and we were all waiting to be entertained by leaping lions, dancing dragons and twirling humans.

Oh look! It's Selena

As you can imagine, there was lots of tat for sale, including this cute horse mask, drums, and dragon puppets to name a few things.

I received some "lucky money", 50 P off soy sauce! Every little bit helps. Amiright?

I know you can tell, these are too good to be from me. You're right. They're from Selena, check out her post about the day.

Some people had dressed up as the zodiac animals and lots of people wanted to take photos with them. Although it was a beautiful sunny day, it was still cold and I was a bit jealous of their faux fur.

Fun travels!