Categories
Travel

Back to the Vault: Basking in Banff

This trip will always hold a very special place in my heart; it was the first sort of non-fishing or camping or work trip my husband and I went on. It was our first “romantic” trip together. It is also the last trip as a family of two; because we are now a family of three!

Basking in Banff

Categories
Writing Prompt Wednesdays

November Journal #3

Describe your most recent dream that you can remember.

I can’t really remember a recent dream in detail; only just short little fragments. That’s really not a compelling journal entry story wise. Although here’s a list of things I sometimes dream about. 

-My husband and I split up

-I’m teaching a class and it’s either going really well or terribly nothing in between

-A day in my life that I already live but sometimes I make different decisions and I see how it plays out

-Traveling

-Plants

-I am falling, and I wake myself up with a start as I hit the ground 

-Mundanely doing chores

Such wild dreams, eh? 

What about you? Comment below!

Prompt from: Piccadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts

Categories
Food & Drink

Best Brisket

a person slicing barbecue beef brisket
Photo by Hayden Walker on Pexels.com

We bought a large brisket from Costco and portioned it out into 5 pieces; the intention was to smoke them in our Bradley. But I wanted to try one in the crock pot; I was quite nervous to cook this cut of meat for the first time. I scoured the internet for the perfect (and simplest) recipe I could find and I’m happy to report (and share) it with you!

Slow Cooker Beef Brisket with BBQ Sauce

The instructions were clear and it was definitely written for a first-timer; she took it right back to the basics. The sauce was easy to make as well and with ingredients I had on hand (and regularly have on hand).

The cook behind this brisket recipe also has one for pork shoulder that I am keen to try! Definitely have her website saved in my favourites now!

Categories
Writing Prompt Wednesdays

November Journal #2

Describe in detail a float, you have seen in a parade.

Perfectly decorated; painstakingly!
Animal balloons. 
Ribbons, bunting, crêpe paper.
All vibrantly, 
decked out, fully. 
Exciting! 

Fear of the clowns cycling past. 
Laughter from the crowd. 
Oohhs &
Aahhs.
Traffic blocked off.

Marching bands 
executing 
manoeuvres 
Organized,
rhythmic 
Yay!

What about you? Comment below!

Prompt from: Piccadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts

Categories
Baby Life Reflections & Lifestyle

Product Review: Dr. Brown’s Baby Bottles

These bottles are advertised as “the best baby bottles.” I beg to differ.

These bottles have been nothing but trouble from the start in terms of leaks. And, BEFORE people comment that there is troubleshooting advice for that on the website; don’t bother –been there done that; the advice works as haphazardly as the bottles. Leaking was still an issue.

However, when they aren’t leaking I am happy to report that my son hasn’t suffered from colic (yet) so perhaps the leaky bottle issue is outweighed. Maybe the “anti-colic” promise from the maker is valid. BUT, then again that may not even be a result of the product but rather the baby (because he’s awesome!)

My recommendation is to try out a bunch of different bottle brands BEFORE committing to one. If you don’t experience leaks that is great but just be prepared for you and your baby to covered in formula or breast milk; regularly.

Categories
Writing Prompt Wednesdays

November Journal #1

Are you a sports fan? Do you watch or participate? Which sports?

I am not a sports fan at all. I was never raised to be and I only ever participated in volleyball and basketball at school and when I say school, I mean elementary school. The competition was too steep in high school and I was too intimidated to even try out. In elementary school no one was turned away; which is nice because you can learn some skills and try the sport out in a low stakes situation. I did the obligatory swimming lessons and I did enjoy my skating lessons. I never kept up with either of them’ too afraid of drowning (which is counter-intuitive because you think that would be the impetus to practice) and too afraid of falling and breaking a bone. These are two sports that my son is MOST DEFINITELY going to keep up with. In terms of watching sports; I only watch hockey when my husband puts on a game or we have friends over. But I love watching the Olympics both summer and winter and I watch whatever I can from them. I also enjoy the Calgary Stampede; the chuckwagon races in particular. When my husband and I first got together he was playing slo-pitch so I would go an watch him play. I am not a gambler but I do love participating in the March Madness pool or the Stanley Cup Playoff pool at work. I even won the March Madness pool once, but that was a total fluke. Technically, I won twice but COVID hit and I was the only paid entry so they deemed me the winner.

What about you? Comment below!

Prompt from: Piccadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts

Categories
Entertainment

October Book Club

I crushed a ton of books in September but I only managed to find time to read one book this month; but it was so good and I can’t wait until the third one comes out. This month I read…

A Murder Most French by Colleen Cambridge

In this novel, Tabitha must solve the murders of two chefs and the attempted murders of her beloved monsieur’s with the help of Julia Child. From the demonstration kitchen at Le Cordon Bleu to the catacombs under the city of Paris; Tabitha throws caution to the wind to bring a killer to justice.

Categories
Writing Prompt Wednesdays

October Journal #4

List 25 things you will never do!

  1. Cheat
  2. Quit my job
  3. Give up on love
  4. Like snakes
  5. Skydive
  6. Bungee jump
  7. Scuba dive
  8. Wear high heels again
  9. Be good at sports
  10. Be brave enough to eat alone at restaurants
  11. Reconcile with those who betrayed me
  12. Have a castle and Scotland
  13. Meet my literary idol
  14. Compromise my values
  15. Learn to drive stick
  16. Win an Academy Award
  17. Wear make up to work again
  18. Make assumptions about others
  19. Move back to BC
  20. See my dad again
  21. Take my friends for granted
  22. Put up with disrespect
  23. Waterski
  24. Stop reading or buying books
  25. Originally, I had “have kids” listed here but we were finally blessed with a baby in the summer so I guess I have to think of something else to add to the list

What about you? Comment below!

Prompt from: Piccadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts

Categories
Entertainment

Back to the Vault: Halloween How To

Considering that my “Guess Who” costume won the contest last year; I figured I would re-share in case you are looking for a winning costume this year. I am not dressing up this year; however, my little guy is going to be an dinosaur!

Halloween How To: Guess Who

Categories
Writing Prompt Wednesdays

October Journal #3

Imagine you were at your next high school reunion. How do you think your old-school friends would react to the person you are today?

I have never attended one of our high school reunions. This summer it would have been TWENTY years! I never had the inkling to go either. To be honest, I don’t even really keep up with anyone; I doubt they keep up with me. I had a few friends in high school, but we drifted apart or they moved while we were in high school. A lot of my friends or rather those who I thought were my friends came from Sea Cadets instead. I kept to myself pretty much in high school. I don’t know if anyone would really care too much or even give me a second thought at high school reunion. A very, very tiny shred of me would love for them to be impressed by me: teacher, wife, mother, business owner but I don’t really care about their opinion at all.

What about you? Comment below!

Prompt from: Piccadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts