2013 Resolutions!

Hello hello!

As much as I’d like to say I’m not one to make resolutions, I totally am. I am, however, much less likely to just start & stop on January 1. I’m more likely to start on the following Monday. I don’t know why but Monday’s always seem like a good day to start something new.

Anyway, first things first. Here were my 2012 resolutions. So how did I do?

Actually not that bad!

1. Did I wear heels more often? Yes! Although it took me awhile to find more wearable daily heels. I found an excellent selection at The Bay and ended up buying three pairs of shoes in five minutes. I also found that Aldo is bringing in more low to mid heels. Fantastic.

One pair of my resolution shoes. A bit more boring than the usual party heels I lean to but a worthy investment since I wore them often. Heel’s still a bit high.

2. Project 365? Nope. I just can’t get it together with that. I’m not sure what it is with me. I think I just have a problem finding content that I think is worth a photo and in the end I take nothing.

3. Buy a home/condo? Result! Yes and it was the best thing I did all year, hands down.

4. Finished Rosetta Stone Italian? Nope. I had problems with my computer and ended up getting a little netbook to tide me over. I didn’t realized until after that there’s no CD drive. I’ll have to pick up an external and get back on it.

Onwards and upwards!

2013 Resolutions:

1. Learn how to sew!

This has been on my list for a long time now. I was so fortunate to receive a sewing machine from my parents for Christmas. How fantastic is it?! I’m terrified though. It looks like such a foreign object to me. Thank goodness for YouTube tutorials!

2. Be more active

This is such a vague resolution but it it’s kind of along the lines of saying yes more often or trying new things. I don’t mean active in an exclusively physical way but that wouldn’t hurt either.

3. Reduce clutter

I am such a clutter bug. I can’t stand dirty dishes or a dirty kitchen but a stack of six months worth of magazines? No bother at all. My condo has gotten so full of clutter over the past few months that it was really overwhelming. I’ve spent the past few days de-cluttering and it feels so freeing! I’m really going to make it my personal mission to stay on top of it.

4. Make more to-do lists!

I am a to-do list fiend when it comes to work. I’ve always got a notebook beside me full of all the things I need to focus on. Now, I need to start doing that in my personal life starting with all the things I still need to do in my condo. Ooh maybe I can turn that into a critical path…or is that too nerdy?

One of the many little things I want to update in my condo. Digital thermostat please!

That’s it! What are your personal goals / resolutions for 2013?

Winter is Coming…

Well, they’ve forecasted that we’ll receive 20 cm of snow over the next day or so. It looks like it’s going to stay this time.

To be honest, our city does such a fantastic job of clearing snow that I’ve only ever had two snow days in my life. Trust me, Winnipeggers get a lot of snow! However, if I don’t absolutely have to leave the house, I’d rather stay in until the roads are all clear and the sun is shining.

Here’s what I have prepared for the event of a snow in:

- Watching movies from the library: Why haven’t I ever thought of this before? I knew the library had DVDs but I didn’t realize how current the selection was. This is so great since I don’t have cable and there’s rental places around here anymore.

- Reading JK Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy: This month’s book club pick.

- Knitting my Winterfell scarf: Inspired by the patterns here and here. I’m such a Song of Ice and Fire geek I don’t even care.

- Studying Fairy Tales : presentation during Monday’s class!

How would you spend your day if you were snowed in?

 

Ready for the Weekend : October 19th Edition!

Happy Friday!

How has your week been? Mine was ok. Actually I had a really quiet night last night and caught up on Emmerdale. It’s their 40th anniversary this week. I love when soaps have epic weeks. They’re always good value. I’ve seen quite a few live soap episodes but I have to say theirs was particularly seamless. I think I’ll miss Carl King and his lime green golf shirt. You know the one I mean. I wish they would’ve gotten rid of Cameron instead. He’s the worst.

Here’s what I’m up to this weekend:

1. Listening to the latest Girls Aloud single. I can’t get enough of it!

2.  Checking out the Haunted Barn at Six Pines. Yikes!
 
3.  Hitting up The Scattered Seeds Craft Show.
I always forget about it but I’m so glad I live so close to it now. It makes it easier to get to.

4.  Watching Gordon Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares on Netflix.
I can’t stop watching. Only people who’ve never worked in a restaurant before would think it was a good idea to open a restaurant with no experience. I worked in restaurants for over 10 years. Still gives me nightmares.
  
5. Catching up on Call the Midwife.
One of the best shows EVER.

What are your plans for the weekend?

What I’m Going to Miss About My Neighbourhood: #4 Elm Tree Canopies

Hi all! This next entry in the series has perfect timing with our gorgeous fall weather lately!

4. Elm Tree CanopiesWinnipeg is known for its elm trees particularly in the older neighbourhoods. In these neighbourhoods, the streets are a bit narrower allowing the trees to completely cover the area below. It’s so beautiful and especially romantic when the leaves start to change colour and gently fall to the ground below.

Check out the rest of this series: 10/9/8/7/6/5.

What do you love about your neighbourhood?

What I’m Going to Miss About My Neighbourhood: #5 St. Boniface Library

Hi all!

Did you know that October is library month? It’s true!

5. St. Boniface Library

{St. Boniface Library}

The St. Boniface Library is now one of my all time favourite libraries right up there with the Banff Park Library. I like them both for the same reasons. They have a great selection but you’re only exposed to a small amount of it at a time. Because of the smaller selections, I find that I’m more likely to try something new rather than the same type of books I generally go for.

For those who aren’t familiar with St. Boniface, it’s a large french speaking community within Winnipeg, Canada. Its library, (the one picture above), holds books that are primarily French. I would estimate that about 90% of the libraries books are French. The English books take about 3 or 4 rows as well as some racks of paperbacks. Of course, because it’s part of the Winnipeg public library system, I was able to order English books and pick them up there. However, sometimes you just need to browse you know?

At this library, I took a chance on books and authors I honestly wouldn’t have picked up at larger libraries. That’s the benefit of smaller libraries and sometimes fewer options.

Check out the rest of this series: 10/9/8/7/6.

What do you love about your neighbourhood?

What I’m Going to Miss About My Neighbourhood: #6 St. Boniface Post Office

Hi all!

6. St. Boniface Post Office

{St. Boniface Post Office}

This might be a weird place to miss but I’m really attached to the St. B Post Office for a couple of reasons:

• There are very few freestanding post offices anymore.
• I get to practice my French by eavesdropping on the other patrons.
• The main post office guy there is so quick! Seriously, if I have to send 4 packages at once, he has them processed and ready to go in 5 minutes.
• Parking right out the door! So handy when you just want to run in and out.

Check out the rest of this series: 10/9/8/7.

What do you love about your neighbourhood?

What I’m Going to Miss About My Neighbourhood: #7 Le Croissant

Hi all!

I’m so behind on this series! I moved over a month ago already.

7. Le Croissant

{Le Croissant}

Without a doubt, one of the places I’m going to miss the most is Le Croissant. This little bakery makes the absolutely best croissants in Winnipeg. One of my favourite things to do was to wake up and walk the 20 or so minutes to the bakery to pick up a croissant for an am break. If you haven’t been there already, you really have to go. Just get there early to make sure there’s a bit of a selection. I personally love the selection of fruit croissants that arrive in the summer.

 {A raspberry croissant}

Check out #10 , #9 and #8.

What do you love about your neighbourhood?

What I’m Going to Miss About My Neighbourhood: #8 Le Garage Cafe!

Hi all!

It has been such a lousy couple of weeks for me. I was ill, then I was trying to move in 40C weather and I’ve just finished with a bout of teeth grinding. Just bad news bears all around. So behind in my posts!

8. Le Garage Cafe!

{Le Garage Cafe}

When I was younger, there seemed to be a lot more restaurants on Provencher Blvd than there is currently. More importantly, there seemed to be more places that had fantastic poutine. However, when I moved there I couldn’t seem to find what I was looking for. Fortunately, Le Garage Cafe has fantastic poutine and features great live music. It’s one of the places I know I’ll be meeting people for lunch when I head over to that end of the city.

{My favourite veggie burger & poutine}

If you’re looking for a place to hear such great live music and meal, check out Le Garage Cafe next time you’re in St. B!

Check out #10 and #9.

What do you love about your neighbourhood?

Ready for the Weekend: July 13 Edition

The Keys to My New Condo! 

Happy Friday!

This has been such an exhausting week for me. On Monday, I got home from our family reunion in Saskatchewan. It was also my birthday! On Tuesday, I started to get quite sick and I’m still not feeling up to snuff. I feel so behind on the moving process! So much to do before Monday! Fortunately, I was able to pull myself together to get to the lawyer’s office and sign some papers on Wednesday and pick up my keys today. I STILL HAVEN’T PACKED A THING! So that’s what I’m up to this weekend….packing, packing, packing.

Did I mention that it’s been in the mid 30Cs all week? SO HOT! I need a slurpee.

What are you up to this weekend?

What I’m Going to Miss About My Neighbourhood: #9 Fireworks!

Hi all!

Happy Belated Canada Day!! Last night, while watching Twin Peaks (obsessed, by the way), I could here the fireworks starting to explode nearby. I got up and made my way to the bathroom window which offers a perfect view of our city’s fireworks display. This reminded me of what I would miss when I move in a couple of weeks (14 days but who’s counting?).

9. Fireworks!

{This was taken last fall during the NHL’s return fireworks}

When I first moved to St. Boniface, I got excited about being within walking distance of the fireworks. Previously when I decided to drive in and check them out, it always turned into a hassle. As with most things, I soon got tired of the idea after a few trips out. Plus, I started to realize that there were fireworks nearly every other weekend for one festival or another.

However, I know that the time will come and I’ll miss when I was able just walk out of my room and watch beautiful fireworks explode in the sky.

Check out #10 here.

What do you love about your neighbourhood?