Category: Entertainment

In honour of this day; which I have no idea was even a day to be celebrated; I figured it was time for a photo dump. A photo dump of all my favourite pics!

Next weekend, a friend and I are hosting a Baby Sprinkle! We have relished very much in the planning of it, so I thought I would share what we have in store in case you need or want some inspiration. 

Number of Guests: 12

Theme: Sprinkle/Confetti

Decor: Rainbow Confetti Plates, Cups, Napkins  AND Multicolour Confetti Balloons from Party City

Food: Crudite & Dip Tray, Fruit Tray AND Panini Sandwich Tray from The Italian Centre Shops 
 Sugar Cookies (with SPRINKLES) from Confetti Sweets
Mini Confetti Cupcakes from Safeway
          Sparkling Grapefruit Party Punch 

Entertainment:
1. Guests will write funny sayings and messages on diapers to amuse our Mom-To-Be during those late night changes
2. Celebrity Baby Name Game
3. Price is Right Baby Edition Game
4. Guess how many Sourpatch Kids are in a baby bottle game

Prizes: The winner of each game with get a foaming hand soap from Bath & Body Works and a 3 pack of chocolate hedgehogs from Purdy’s

Favours: Monogram Mug from Indigo with a tea sample from David’s Tea

Gift for the Mom-To-Be: Ella Ola Essential Baby Bundle

I have been busy learning through Coursera… since my last “round-up” I have completed the following…

Magic in the Middle Ages
“In this course we will introduce you to the Middle Ages through a wide conception of magic. Students will have an approach to medieval culture, beliefs and practices from the perspective of History and History of Science. Popular magic, as well as learned magic (alchemy, geomancy and necromancy and astrology) will be addressed. Moreover, we will also deal with how eastern practices and texts influenced western culture.Magic in the Middle Ages offers a captivating overview of medieval society and promotes reflection about certain stereotypes associated with this period,” (Coursera).

Modern World Part 1 1760-1910
“This is a survey of modern history from a global perspective. Part One begins with the political and economic revolutions of the late 1700s and tracks the transformation of the world during the 1800s.  Part One concludes as these bewildering changes seem to be running beyond the capacity of older institutions to handle them.  Throughout the course we try to grasp what is happening and ask:  Why?  And the answers often turn on very human choices,” (Coursera).

Modern World Part 2 Global History Since 1910
“This is a survey of modern history from a global perspective.  Part Two begins early in the twentieth century, as older ways of doing things and habits of thought give way.  What follows is an era of cataclysmic struggles over what ideas and institutions will take their place.  The course concludes in the present day, as communities everywhere are transitioning into a new era of world history.  Again we work hard to grasp what is happening and ask:  Why?  Again we are drawn to pivotal choices made at key moments by individuals and communities,” (Coursera).

Intro to Ancient Egypt & its Civilization
“Colossal pyramids, imposing temples, golden treasures, enigmatic hieroglyphs, powerful pharaohs, strange gods, and mysterious mummies are features of Ancient Egyptian culture that have fascinated people over the millennia.  The Bible refers to its gods, rulers, and pyramids. Neighboring cultures in the ancient Near East and Mediterranean wrote about its god-like kings and its seemingly endless supply of gold.  The Greeks and Romans describe aspects of Egypt’s culture and history. Join Dr. David Silverman, Professor of Egyptology at Penn, Curator in Charge of the Egyptian Section of the Penn Museum, and curator of the Tutankhamun exhibitions  on a guided tour of the mysteries and wonders of this ancient land,” (Coursera).

Greek & Roman Mythology
“Myths are traditional stories that have endured over a long time. Some of them have to do with events of great importance. Others tell the stories of great heroes and heroines and their exploits and courage in the face of adversity. Still others are simple tales about otherwise unremarkable people who get into trouble or do some great deed. This course will focus on the myths of ancient Greece and Rome, as a way of exploring the nature of myth and the function it plays for individuals, societies, and nations. We will also pay some attention to the way the Greeks and Romans themselves understood their own myths. This course will investigate these questions regarding myth through a variety of topics, including the creation of the universe, the relationship between gods and mortals, human nature, religion, the family, sex, love, madness, and death,” (Coursera).

Cultural Competence
“This course explores some of the key themes and capabilities of cultural competence by exploring Aboriginal experiences and narratives of Sydney; from when it was ‘claimed’ for the British Crown in 1770, by Captain James Cook, and the invasion which began in earnest when the First Fleet of British arrived in 1788 and established a penal colony in Sydney. As a consequence Sydney is a city rich in diverse pre-colonial, colonial and contemporary sites of significance to Aboriginal peoples. Too often though our perceptions about Aboriginal peoples consign them to an ancient past or perpetuates stereotypical imaginations that Aboriginal peoples live in remote communities,” (Coursera).

Russian History: From Lenin to Putin
“In this course, Peter Kenez, Professor Emeritus at UC Santa Cruz, explains the events of modern Russian history and introduces its most significant actors—from Vladimir Lenin to Vladimir Putin,” (Coursera).

Aboriginal Worldviews & History
“Intended for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal learners, this course will explore indigenous ways of knowing and how they can benefit all students. Topics include historical, social, and political issues in Aboriginal education; terminology; cultural, spiritual and philosophical themes in Aboriginal worldviews; and how Aboriginal worldviews can inform professional programs and practices, including but not limited to the field of education,” (Coursera).

Paradoxes of War
“The Paradoxes of War teaches us to understand that war is not only a normal part of human existence, but is arguably one of the most important factors in making us who we are. Through this course, you will come to appreciate that war is both a natural expression of common human emotions and interactions and a constitutive part of how we cohere as groups. That is, war is paradoxically an expression of our basest animal nature and the exemplar of our most vaunted and valued civilized virtues. You will learn some basic military history and sociology in this course as a lens for the more important purpose of seeing the broader social themes and issues related to war,” (Coursera).

I also took the Four Seasons of Reconciliation course from the First Nations University of Canada although it isn’t a Coursera course; it is a “must take!”

Netflix
David A. Arnold (2022)
Whitney Cummings: Jokes
Uncoupled (2022)
Persuasion (2022)
God’s Favourite Idiot (2022)
Man Vs Bee (2022)
Hard Cell (2022)
Carrie Pilby (2022)

Amazon Prime
Murder on the Nile (2022)
The Northman (2022)
Backstage with Katherine Ryan (2022)
Upload (2020)

What have you been watching?

Tolstoy said it best, “Rest, nature, books, MUSIC…Such is my idea of happiness.” 

Already -Beyoncé, Shatta Wale, Major Lazer
Vibe -Skip Marley, Popcaan
Fall -Davido
Dumebi -Rema
Last Last -Burna Boy
Cover Me in Sunshine -Pink, Willow Sage Hart
Can’t Stop Us Now -Pitbull, Zac Brown
Dandelions -Ruth B
Catalonia -Vance Joy
Solar Power -Lorde
Thousand Miles -The Kid Laroi
As It Was -Harry Styles
Crazy What Love Can Do -David Guetta, Becky Hill, Ella Henderson
Malibu -Miley Cyrus
Good As Hell -Lizzo, Ariana Grande
Stupid Love -Lady Gaga
Prisoner -Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa
About Damn Time -Lizzo
Don’t Start Now -Dua Lipa
Regardless -RAYE, Rudimental
Vegas -Doja Cat
7/11 -Beyoncé
Numb -Marshmello, Khalid
Bellydancer -Imanbek, BYOR
Kiss My (Uh Oh) -Anne-Marie, Little Mix
Tell It To My Heart -MEDUZA, Hozier
Envolver -Anitta
Clovers -Barrie
Doin’ Time -Lana Del Rey
Hold Up -Beyoncé

What are you rocking out to this summer?

After another, very long and very trying school year –summer is just around the corner. Staff parties were made null and void during COVID. We haven’t had a staff party in over two years.

To kick off summer with a bang as well as to say goodbye to several beloved staff members who decided to move on to bigger and better positions within the education system; we came up with some great party ideas…

1. Round of golf
2. City beer cart pedal tour
3. Amazing Race/Scavenger Hunt
4. Escape Room
5. Dinner Theater
6. Harbour Boat Cruise
7. Paint Night
8. Karaoke & Sushi
9. Overnight in the “Wilderness”
10. Murder Mystery Dinner Party

How do you celebrate the end of the school year?

One of things on my list of ‘intentional summer plans” was to spend more time BEING ARTISTIC. I set aside one day a week (Sunday’s) to do this. The first step in making this a reality was to make a list of projects I want to tackle. I also thought it would be a cool thing to do with my friends once a week as well since another goal for the summer was to spend more time with my friends. 

1. Succulent Planters (Gilded Stones or Sand or Clay Petals)
2. Tye-Die 
3. Macramé
4. Candle Making
5. Painted Wine Bottle Vases
6. Fluid Art
7. Mason Jar Wind Chime
8. Glitter Dipped Wine Glasses
9. Decoupage Glass Magnets
10. Coffee Filter Peonies
11. No Sew Rope Basket
12. Starburst Wreath

If you have any cool crafts for the summer, comment below!

Agatha Christie: The Killings at Kingfisher Hill by Sophie Hannah

“Hercule Poirot is travelling by luxury passenger coach from London to the exclusive Kingfisher Hill estate. Richard Devonport has summoned him to prove that his fiancée, Helen, is innocent of the murder of his brother, Frank. There is one strange condition attached to this request: Poirot must conceal his true reason for being there from the rest of the Devonport family.

On the coach, a distressed woman leaps up, demanding to disembark. She insists that if she stays in her seat, she will be murdered. A seat-swap is arranged, and the rest of the journey passes without incident. But Poirot has a bad feeling about it, and his fears are later confirmed when a body is discovered in the Devonports’ home with a note that refers to ‘the seat that you shouldn’t have sat in’.

Could this new murder and the peculiar incident on the coach be clues to solving mystery of who killed Frank Devonport? And can Poirot find the real murderer in time to save an innocent woman from the gallows?” 
–Agatha Christie Wiki

Rating: 5/5