I was gifted an awesome journal for Christmas this year; Picadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts. I thought it would be fun to spend a few moments each Wednesday working through this journal and then sharing them with you.
What about you?
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Workout Favourites
One of my new favourite apps is the Nike Training Club (NTC), this app has helped me make positive changes in my life. I can find a variety of workouts that target specific body areas and of differing lengths which are suitable for my level of fitness and ones that match my limited equipment inventory. I haven’t gotten bored of working out; which I normally do. I have ZERO excuses not to workout everyday and to be honest… I have discovered I actually enjoy it. I have noticed changes in mood and my clothes fit better!!!! Here is a list of my all time favourite workouts from the app so far. They pair very well with our workout playlist.
Arms
-Tank Top Arms
Back
-Back & Bicep Burnout
Abs/Core
-5 Minute Plank Finisher
-Ab Burner 2.0
-Abs & Arms
-Quick Hit Abs
-Back It Down
-Ab & Butt
Legs
-Leaner Legs 2.0
-One Leg At A Time
-Leg and Glute Burner
Glutes
-Glute Toner
-Glutes & Glory
General
-Sweat and Shape 2.0
-Full Body Goal Crusher
Yoga
-Full Body Strength Yoga
-Length & Flow Yoga
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High End Fashion Wishlist
We follow or read about iconic fashionistas and covet the designer clothes they wear so flawlessly. We thought it would be fun to throw the budget out the window and dream a little.
The Veronica from Jenny Packham is a peony pink silk chiffon pleated gown with embellished lace bodice and it would most DEFINITELY break the bank as it retails for £3,500.
With it I would pair it with the Mimi 100 sandals in Anthracite by Jimmy Choo ($1,025 CDN) and the Ellipse Platinum (glitter) Clutch also by Jimmy Choo ($1,050 CDN).
So, if money was no object…what would you wear?
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Workout Playlist
Having a solid playlist when you work out is crucial; it gets you motivated, helps you push yourself and can calm you down afterwards. Check out our tunes on Spotify! It is quite the eclectic mix of old/new, high/lower energy and genres!
1. Cake by the Ocean (DNCE)
2. Sucker (Jonas Brothers)
3. Lose Yourself (Eminem)
4. All I Do Is Win (DJ Khaled)
5. Me And My Broken Heart (Rixton)
6. I Took A Pill In Ibiza (Mike Posner)
7. Cheap Thrills (Sia)
8. Sex (Cheat Codes & Kriss Kross Amsterdam)
9. Ready, Set, Roll (Chase Rice)
10. Shut Up And Dance (Walk The Moon)
11. Mr. Brightside (The Killers)
12. Hold On We’re Going Home (Drake & Majid Jordan)
Categories
Carrot Casserole
In an effort to eat better I decided to substitute some of my meat heavy recipes for meatless ones. I discovered an incredible recipe for carrot casserole; this recipe makes for a great side dish or an entree.
Ingredients
3 large eggs
2 cups of cooked mashed carrots
1 cup milk
1/4 cup of margarine melted
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup fine dry bread crumbs
Directions
-Beat eggs in a bowl until they are frothy then add the next six ingredients to the egg mixture and mix well
-Add breadcrumbs, stir until blended
-Pack into an ungreased casserole dish (2L)
-Bake uncovered at 350F for 1 hour.
Before the pandemic and all the restrictions; at least once a month we got together; it was mandatory! And when we did there was generally a trend…
In the week leading up to a weekend reunion, we exchange a lot of texts to get an idea of what we want to do for the weekend and what the ‘traveler’ should pack because you just can’t bring your whole wardrobe – or house!
Friday night is reunion night! After a two and a half hour drive, or excitedly waiting for those hours, we are finally reunited and a few squeals and hugs upon arrival we settle in for the night. Usually this involves a meal either ordered-in or whipped up quickly. Think pizza (usually loaded with veg), mac and cheese – a real comfort food kind of night with a hint of nostalgia for our university days. A glass of wine or fancy cocktail is a must and so is a healthy dose of GOSSIP catching up. Once we have exhausted all of our news, we plan our activities for the next few days. For some reason (maybe because we are “old” 30-somethings), we are never able to stay up late and usually are exhausted and ready for bed by 10 or 11pm.
Saturday morning is usually an early one: (1) because we want to soak up as much time together as possible, and (2) because we have a crap load of things to cram into our only full day. Mornings always start with a nice cup of coffee and a big breakfast – waffles complete with fruit and bacon. With the crappy winter light, we spend our mornings staging photos like crazy for our upcoming blogs that we are simultaneously brainstorming and drafting. Whether in Calgary or around Edmonton we always try to do a few things that we haven’t done before or haven’t done in a while. For example, checking out Granary Road or going to the Art Gallery of Alberta.
Being the foodies that we are we either opt for a delicious (and perhaps more expensive than normal) lunch or dinner. Our go-to’s are sushi and Indian food, or checking out a new restaurant – and we spend a lot of time researching new-to-us spots to eat. We always end up ordering the SAME thing off the menu or strategically narrow the menu down to two must have items and then share. After savouring our meal, we do a bit of window shopping and errands before heading home.
Once at home we either work on our blogging some more and go through photos taken on our adventure and watch a good stand up comedy or classic episode of a show we also used to watch together like Sex and the City or binge watching something on the Food Network. And then stay up talking some more for a while.
Sunday is bittersweet and a bit more mellow. It’s the last few hours together before one of us heads back home. We still do a big breakfast, get the last minute things together and then relax and get ready to go back to our lives apart.
I was gifted an awesome journal for Christmas this year; Picadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts. I thought it would be fun to spend a few moments each Wednesday working through this journal and then sharing them with you.
What about you?
Categories
Netflix -Binge Watching
binge watch·ing
noun
- the practice of watching multiple episodes of a television program in rapid succession, typically by means of DVDs or digital streaming.
Everyone has been guilty of holing up and binge watching a season or entire series. For me normally it happened during the winters but due to the pandemic it has become a year-round occurrence whether intentional or accidental. I decided to share a list of my favourite shows with you, especially since I am fresh off an accidental binge-watching fest of Grace and Frankie. I look forward to hearing your recommendations, please comment below.
1. Jane the Virgin
This show follows the telenovela life of Jane Gloriana Villanueva and her crazy yet wonderful family. Jane, an aspiring writer, made a promise to her abuela (grandma) at a very young age that she would save herself for marriage, that is until a routine gynecological exam took an unexpected turn. Jane was accidentally artificially inseminated. Throughout her pregnancy and after Jane struggles with her professional life (waitress, teacher, writer) and her love life (should she choose her boyfriend or the father of her baby). Often times Jane gets sucked into the goings on of her family member, but whatever the case the Villanueva family pull together for each other. When I was in high school our teacher encouraged us to watch Spanish soap operas as a way to help learn the language, so it is very much a nice throwback to that time of my life.
2. Dynasty
Dynasty is a 2017 reboot of the classical 1980s soap and it is very well done; I’d say it is probably the best reboot I have seen lately. The life and business the Carrington’s is rife with intrigue. After losing out on the COO position at Carrington Atlantic (CA), daughter Fallon is on a mission to prove herself to her father and the world and establishes Morell Corp with Jeff Colby. The Colby’s and Carrington’s are the modern version of the Hatfield and McCoys. Over the course of show thus far we learn that everyone has skeletons in their closet and they all go to great lengths to keep it that way. Complicating matters most recently is the return of Blake Carrington’s ex-wife and mother of his children, Alexis and the revelation that there may be another heir to the CA throne. I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.
3. The Ranch
The Ranch is a 2016 Netflix comedy that follows the Bennett Family. The all-star cast includes: Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Debra Winger, Elisha Cuthbert and Sam Elliott. Based in small town Colorado, the Bennetts struggle to keep their family ranch afloat. Colt Bennett returns home after a failed football career; his reintegration to family life makes for excellent repartee between him and his rough around the edges brother, Rooster. Rooster stayed behind to bust his butt working for his tough as nails, no nonsense father, Beau. Beau’s estranged wife, a flighty bar owner tries to keep the peace but also causes a lot of tension for the men. I like to think of this as a gritty version of That 70s Show. Please note that this show is definitely not kid appropriate.
4. The Office
This mockumentary depicts the lives of Dundler Mifflin Paper Company employees like Michael Scott, Jim Halpert, Pam Beesley and Dwight Schrute. There are nine seasons of laughs as a result of Michael’s well-meaning but hair-brained schemes or conference room meetings and the pranks that Jim plays on Dwight who has peculiar beliefs and tendencies. The romance between Jim and Pam is sweet and early on in the series, you wonder: will they or won’t they get together? The ensemble of supporting characters are awesome from the Warehouse guys under Darryl, to the Accounting Department headed by Angela, to Customer Service featuring dysfunctional couple, Kelly and Ryan; to the Quality Assurance team of eccentric Creed and Meredith and who could forget Michael’s nemesis Toby in HR. I never get tired of this show. I can watch it over and over (and I have). I think that that is the sign of great show; the more you watch the more you appreciate it, the more you watch it the funnier it becomes.
5. Grace and Frankie
Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin star as Grace and Frankie in this TV show. At first they are more like frenemies but form a solid loving friendship following the revelation that their husbands, Robert (Martin Sheen) and Sol (Sam Waterston) are gay and have been involved in a twenty year long love affair. In the series opener Robert and Sol ask their wives for a divorce so they can finally marry. Grace, the disciplined, fierce business woman and Frankie, the fun loving free-spirited art teacher are forced to live together in a beach house co-owned by the former couples and put their lives back together. The heart-warming trials and tribulations of Grace & Frankie and their families over five seasons provide MANY laughs and may cause you to shed a few tears. I love this show because I can sort of see my bestie and I getting into all kinds of trouble in our 70s.
6. The Good Place
Kristen Bell stars as Eleanor Shellstrop who surprisingly ends up in the “good place” after death. However, she realizes she shouldn’t be there and goes to great lengths to hide that fact. With the help of her new found friends: Chidi, Tahani and Jianyu she tries to change her ways and prove herself worthy of the “good place.” Plus it has Ted Danson….everything is better with Ted Danson (spoken like a kid who grew up during the height of Cheers).
7. Lovesick
Formerly called, “Scrotal Recall,” and I mean come on, who could resist a show called THAT! This hilarious shows follows hopeless romantic, Dylan as he tracks down his former flames to inform them that he has been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease. The show flashes back to defining moments of his relationships with each of the women.
8. Community
Jeff is fired from his law firm, when they discover his credentials are phony; to get his job back he needs to actually get his Bachelor’s degree, so he enrolls at Greendale. Greendale is a community college with an eccentric staff (led by Dean Pelton and features Professor Duncan and Spanish teacher, Ben Chang) and student body is equally eccentric. Jeff is a womanizer, who tries to get with “the hot blond from Spanish” (aka Britta), to accomplish this feat he forms a Spanish study group, which initially included Abed, Annie, Shirley, Troy and Pierce) they become not just a community but a family!
9. Sherlock
We had a week of cold weather, the temperatures dropped to -40 for a whole week; school was cancelled, so I was able to binge watch the talented Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman portray beloved mystery novel characters, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. This BBC adaptation modernized Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s protagonists but still managed to stay true to the books. It was thrilling to watch and cause me to go back and re-read the books and short stories.
10. Kim’s Convenience
A CBC comedy about the Kim family who run a convenience store in Toronto. You’ll be LOL-ing as you watch them deal with customers and each other. Traditional Korean born Appa frequently clashes with his Canadianized children Janet and Jung while Umma more often than not has to serve as referee.
11. Parks and Recreation
Leslie Knope, played by the incredibly hilarious Amy Poehler is the deputy director of the parks and recreation department of Pawnee, Indiana who promises her soon to be best friend, Ann Perkins that she will turn a pit into an idyllic park. Along for the ride are her trusty department members: Gerry Gergich, Donna Meagle, April Ludgate, Andy Dwyer, Tom Haverford. The department is headed by director Ron Swanson, an anti-government Libertarian. Joining the cast later are Ben and Chris, auditors from the capitol!
12. Superstore
This brilliant comedy was created Justin Spitzer; he worked on The Office, so it is no wonder I LOVE this show. Also, when I was growing up, I watched Kids in the Hall re-runs, religiously… so when I found out the boss was played by Mark McKinney I could help but tune in. The love story between Jonah and Amy reminded me of Pam and Jim; but was touching and unique. The remainder of the cast: Dina, Garret, Cheyenne, Marcus, Sandra, Mateo, etc; are so funny and lovable; they loyally work for Cloud9 despite the ups and down. The show touches on some serious issues such as unionization, immigration and the general political climate of the Trump era.
13. IT Crowd
The only downside to this show: THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH EPISODES! (As is common with British shows). Roy and Moss are two IT department nerds who work for Reynholm Industries, run by the very peculiar Denholm (and then his cringey son Douglas). They relished their jobs; undisturbed but their world is turned upside when they meet their new IT department head, Jen who knows as much about computers as Moss knows about social conventions.
14. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
I was so excited to watch this, Ellie Kemper was fantastic on The Office where she shined as the reception, Erin. She does more than shine as Kimmy Schmidt, a women who spent 15 years in a bunker with three other women after being kidnapped by Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne. The show follows her as she adjusts to life in New York after her rescue. By her side are her fabulous roommate Titus Andromedon, her kooky landlady, Lillian as well as her self-centered trophy-wife boss turned friend, Jacqueline White.
15. Schitt’s Creek
I grew up watching the likes of Canadian greats, Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara. This award winning show follows the Rose family. Johnny WAS a filthy-rich video store magnate but finds himself in financial hot-water when his accountant screws them over. Johnny and his wife, former soap opera star Moira; and spoiled children (Alexis and David) have to leave their high flouting life and live in Schitt’s Creek, a town that Johnny bought as a joke for his son. The townspeople graciously take in the family and help them learn how to be better people.
*I also really LOVED binge watching The Mindy Project until it was removed from Netflix! If anyone from Netflix, watches this… PLEASE bring it back!!!
Categories
Pet Necessities
As waterfowlers who hunt both professionally and personally having a birddog is crucial. My husband and I contacted Trailrunners in Big River, Saskatchewan, in 2016. We had seen their incredible dogs at the Edmonton Boat & Sportsman Show for years and were blown away by their abilities as well as the dedication of the Oudshoorn Family. We very much appreciate their mission. They seek to “strengthen and promote the healthy bloodlines of the working Labrador retriever in Canada and the world. [T]o produce a superior Labrador, whose purpose is to serve and benefit humankind in the most meaningful ways possible.” We welcomed Gauge to our family in November and then took him back to Trailrunners the following March for almost five months of intensive training with them.
He underwent obedience training, learned how to properly heel and walk beside us, he learned how to fetch on command, perform various drills relating to hunting and working, loading in and out of a vehicle, his kennel and blind, in addition to water steadiness and of course gun safety. Overall, our dog’s transformation was remarkable; he left us an anxious little puppy and came home a confident dog eager to get into the field; desperate to work. Because of this, Gauge was even able to obtain his Junior Hunt Certification in Saskatoon. He had a successful first season with us in September/October of 2017. We cannot thank the staff and the Oudshoorn family enough for the time and care they took with Gauge.
Gauge is a beloved member of our family however, he is also a specially trained working dog. His needs and typical (material) necessities are different than that of a traditional pet. We have to work with him constantly and there are a few products that make it all possible.
Dogtra E-Collar
“In order to prepare your dog to perform the necessary tasks for hunting, you will need to train them on a number of behaviors as well as several commands. The most modern hunters rely on Dogtra e-collars to help them get ready in the field…so you can easily and powerfully reinforce all the behaviors and responses necessary for an effective hunt.”
Tanglefree Flight Series Dog Blind
“Keep your favorite hunting partner hidden and protected from the harshest conditions. The new Flight Series Dog Blind is built with a corrosion resistant aluminum frame and 600D Polyester Optifade material, it is sure to handle anything Mother Nature can dish out. With a double entry door, extra stubble straps for adaptability and a low profile, your companion will be ready to work all day.”
Tanglefree Flight Series Dog Vest
“For dogs that hunt as hard as you do, this vest will keep them afloat longer, and more comfortable on long cold retrieves. Made out of neoprene with a centered grab handle built in. Offered in both GORE OPTIFADE Concealment Waterfowl Marsh and Timber Patterns.” Gauge spends time in the winter going ice fishing with my husband. We zip him up in his vest and he hangs out on his dog bed in the tent.
Tanglefree Bumpers/Practice Birds
Whether it is a mallard or bumper pack, having these allows us “to cover all training simulations and exercises needed to get [our] dog ready for the fall…Tanglefree dog bumpers have the durability to provide [us] and [our] hunting partner with plenty of training activity in the off-season.” We also have a simulated goose, that Gauge loves to practice with.
Dog Run
At 85 pounds and super active, Gauge is not really a house pet. In the winter he spends more time inside as the freezing temperatures make it unsafe for him (or any dog) to be outside for any length of time. But, during the spring and summer he spends lots of time outside with us. When he isn’t practising, hunting, fishing or hanging out in shade while I garden, he gets a chance to be a puppy and run around his deluxe dog run that my husband and I built for him; complete with a few toys, dog house and food/water tray.
Origen Food
Nutrition is just as important for a dog as it is for us, so we choose to feed Gauge (as well as our cats) Origen food. Typically we give him Regional Red but he also enjoys Original and Six Fish. For a treat he gets moose bones. We like that this brand of food is, “biologically appropriate, [uses] fresh regional ingredients [and is] never outsourced.”
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Dreaming About Dublin
I don’t know whether it was because I watched Leap Year (2010) on Netflix or because St. Patrick’s Day has come and gone but my travel bug still gnawing on me to FINALLY get around to planning my trip to Ireland; but whatever the case, I got my butt in gear.
I discovered a really great app, called Visit A City when my bestie and I plan our girls trips we use a fantastic app called, Visit A City. The app has a TON of great destinations and features pre-made itineraries, travel tips, detailed maps and lots of background information about your destination and all the tourist attractions including the prices of admissions for them. It also allows you to customize the itineraries and create your own. It really allows you to maximize your time at your destination. When we were in San Francisco it came in handy to be able to use the app offline and still access the plans we saved. I would highly recommend it to anyone planning a trip!
I wanted to jam pack as much as I could into the week I allotted for my trip however I wanted to actually ENJOY my time there… I didn’t want it to a be a blur or only spend short amounts of time at my bucket-list attractions or simply “drive by them.” I have been on holidays like that in my twenties and I always wished I had spent more time and I always felt super exhausted. But I thought the pace and timings offered on the itineraries on Visit A City met my needs. My itinerary will seem very nerdy to some…but I LOVE it!
Day 1
-Cliffs of Moher
Day 2
-Trinitiy College
-Ha’Penny Bridge
-Temple Bar
-Dublin Castle
-Chester Beatty Library
-St. Patrick’s Cathedral
-Marhss Library
-Whitefriar Street Church
Day 3
-Kilmainham Gaol
-Irish Museum of Modern Art
-Guinness Storehouse
-Museum of Decorative Arts & History
-St. Michans Church
-The Old Jameson Distillery
Day 4
-Wild Wicklow and Glendalough Tour
Day 5
-The Book of Kells & Old Library
-Old Parliament House
-Grafton Street
-St. Teresa’s Church
-Little Museum of Dublin
-St. Stephen’s Green
-Newman House
Day 6
-National Gallery of Ireland
-National Houses of Parliament
-National Library of Ireland
-National Museum of Archaeology
-National Museum of Natural History
-Number 29 (Georgian House Museum)
Day 7
-Cork and Blarney Castle Rail Trip