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!

Don't miss a post! 

Sign up for email posts (found on the sidebar), like my facebook page, or follow me on bloglovin'. You can also keep up with my instagram feed and I occasionally tweet.

Let's get social

An [Im]perfect Photograph: Travel Link Up

I'm a blogger (duh), occasionally I'm a travel blogger, lifestyle blogger, food blogger, or hometown tourist blogger. But I don't have a camera. Never really have since starting my blog 4 and a half years ago. I've always relied on my phone for taking pictures (remember when they used to be called camera phones?). Despite that I'd like to think I've gotten better at photography over time. Looking back at early posts with embarrassing quality images, I at least hope I have. Although this blog is a passion project and brings me satisfaction and joy, it's still just a hobby and other things have taken priority over buying a new (actual) camera.

On my last trip, I thought I'd figured things out this time by bringing both my regular iPhone, my dad's old Android, and borrowed my parents point and shoot camera. For the most part this system 'worked', but was a bit of a pain. But will I be buying a camera in the near future? Probably not. Mama needs a phone upgrade. That'll do.

My lack of a 'proper' camera and this month's travel theme, ''A Perfect...'' lead me to think about taking the perfect photo.

Has this happened to you? The setting is magical, the atmosphere sublime, the subject excellent and perfectly poised, you point and shoot and for those few brief seconds before the digital image flashes on the screen, in your mind you have taken the most brilliant photograph ever to exist. Sometimes it's close, sometimes it's better in your mind's eye.

Example from 2013 of a not so great photo, that was perfect in my head. (And I still used it on the blog!)

When we visited the salt flats in Bolivia those famed perspective shots alluded us. At first I was disappointed that we didn't get the perfect shot, then I mentally kicked myself and shook my head. I was in freakin' Bolivia, thousands of miles above sea level and with my bestie, Eimear. Forget about striving for the perfect photograph when I was about to let the perfect moment pass me by.

Eimear calls this our practice shot

But man when I'm able to get that perfect photo at the perfect time on my little 'outdated' smartphone, it's, well...perfection.

At the beginning of each month, I like to take part in the monthly travel link up hosted on the incredible blogs by Angie, Jessi, Emma,  and this month's special co-host Jamie. 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 November 7th.

Don't miss a post! 

Sign up for email posts (found on the sidebar), like my facebook page, or follow me on bloglovin'. You can also keep up with my instagram feed and I occasionally tweet.

Let's get social

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

Don't miss a post! 

Sign up for email posts (found on the sidebar), like my facebook page, or follow me on bloglovin'. You can also keep up with my instagram feed and I occasionally tweet.

Let's get social

Julia Margaret Cameron: a Bad-ass Victorian Photographer

Booking my tickets to London month's prior, I knew one thing was for sure, I would be going to the Victoria and Albert Museum and admiring the images produced by a Victorian pioneer photographer: Julia Margaret Cameron. 

A female experimental artist, not fully appreciated for her artistic merit in her day, is now seen as possessing the ability to really capture her sitter's spirit with the use of her soft focus, closely cropped image, and powerfully contrasting backgrounds. Not to mention many of her sitters were friends and family members, but also happen to be famous and significant personalities of the day.

When she wasn't taking portraitures, she staged Biblical or literary stories, playing with movement and manipulating the wet collodion process, where some photographers would consider her results a failure she would exclaim a success.

The artist herself

It was a beautiful exhibition and I'm super please that I was in London while it was there. I ended my visit to the super over-the-top museum cafe for a spot of tea. I heart museum cafes. I should put that on a shirt.

The exhibit at the V&A will be on until February 21, 2016 

it's free and they are open daily from 10:00-17:45

OR

Head over to the Science Museum, just across the road and check out the
Julia Margaret Cameron: Influence and Intimacy

Running until March 28, 2016

Also free and open daily 10:00-18:00

(I didn't know this was going on so I missed out, if you do go to it, please tell me about it in the comments!)

Don't miss a post! 

Sign up for email posts (found on the sidebar), like my facebook page, or follow me on bloglovin'. You can also keep up with my instagram feed and I occasionally tweet.

Let's get social

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!

Don't miss a post! 

Sign up for email posts (found on the sidebar), like my facebook page, or follow me on bloglovin'. You can also keep up with my instagram feed and I occasionally tweet.

Let's get social

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!

My Favourite Travel Photo

It's been a while since I've done a link up and when I found out the theme for this month's link up from Emma, Kelly, and Rebecca was, "my favourite travel photo" I knew I wanted to make an effort to participate. Like most of the people linked up, I had a hard time picking just one. That's the thing with a personal photograph, you remember the story and events surrounding the photo, not just the content and subject of the image. even a blurred image can evoke a smile from you. While travelling Vietnam with my parents, my dad saw an interesting looking man and decided to take a photo of him, I had other plans however and photo boomed it. Now we have a great big photo of my face that we call, "the photo of the interesting man".
But that's not the photo I selected for this link up. This photo was taken on the same Vietnam trip, on my last full day there. I had some what got over my initial culture shock and was enjoying the different smells, sights, and many sounds. I had just finished my Master's dissertation and was heading back to Canada to move in with my long term boyfriend. Life was good. We had just finished dinner at a Hue restaurant that had a small and busy courtyard out front. We were definitely the only white people there that night. It was a time when I felt like a real traveler. I was somewhere completely different, somewhere not a lot of my Canadian friends and family had been.

Fun travels!

Wednesday Wanderings

The Narrow along the Thames, London

Fun travels!

Wednesday Wanderings

 Crazy natural optical illusion along the canal at the 

Limehouse Cut, London

Fun travels!

Wednesday Wanderings

St. Paul's Cathedral, London

Fun travels!

Wednesday Wanderings

The Albert Memorial with Royal Albert Hall in the background, London

Fun travels!

Kew Gardens

The other week I visited Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, it has been on my list of things to do in London for quite some time, I woke up one sunny Thursday and thought to myself, "self, today is the day." 

Well, truly I was interested in seeing the Palace but was pleasantly surprised by just how much there was to see in one place for one ticket. Now I didn't find it particularly cheap (at  £14.50) but I would say it was well worth it.

I'm going to let my pictures do most of the talking today, but just know this is just a small fraction of the things to see there. Be prepared to spend a good part of a day there, but don't worry there are several nice looking cafe's and restaurants on site so you will not starve. Or if you are a forward thinker, you might have brought your own picnic and can choose from oh so many beautiful grassy spots to stop and rest. You are so clever.

I did the Tree Top Walk and was only shaking mildly. Go me!

This is part of an exhibit that will be opened in the fall

Fun travels!