Snowshoeing in Ontario

How often do you see the sun this time of year? No, seriously. While the people on the West Coast are laughing at my question, anyone east of Saskatchewan is seriously considering how to answer. Was it two weeks ago? A month? We don’t get diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) because we want to stay home from work and watch hockey – although, I’m sure this excuse was used during the Winter Games a time or two. In all honesty, in the last few weeks, I have only experienced a full day of sunshine twice. Yesterday was one of them. And today is another. Dare we try for three in a row? I won’t push my luck.

Noting this good fortune on day numero uno of the sunshine, I did what any winter lover would do; I grabbed my camera, two dogs (don’t worry, they’re mine - I didn’t just steal them) and my snowshoes. Together Hunter, my Husky, and Jack, my German shepherd, and I set off for a trek around the mountain. Now, before you think I set out and climbed Mt. Everest yesterday, let me explain. The ‘Mountain’ as the locals call it, is actually more of a giant hill, a flat mount on top of a valley, if you will. Depending on how bold I feel, I even describe this ‘mountain’ as a lookout, because on a clear day you can see all the way to the next city. It is anything but a mountain, says this girl who loves British Columbia mostly for its landscape. But seeing as I don’t permanently live there yet, it is the closest thing to a mountain I have. In reality, and to the non-imaginative locals, it is known as the East Coulson Swamp - yet another reason why I refer to this place by about any other name I can think of. This name leads you to believe that this land is smelly, rotten and just plain unattractive – meanwhile, it is a thing of beauty. Every time I go, I discover something new. It has sneaky trails, creeks, wildlife galore and the list goes on and on. In the summer I regulate this land twice a week, at least. I have even camped on top of the mountain, blatantly going against all the signs wishes (sorry!). It’s my quiet place, and on day one of the sunshine, it was a sight to be seen. 

Day numero duo of sunshine tempted me to go back to my mountain for more winter discovery, but as with all things involved with travel, there are more things waiting to be explored. That being said, I forced myself to go a bit further down the road to wander around part of the old Simcoe County Forest. If you’ve never been and you’re an outdoor adventurist, you best be packing your bags. Mountain bikers from all over come here in the summer to ride its vastly growing number of trails – all of which make great cross country ski and snowshoe trails in the winter. I will admit, even as a local I still get lost in its winding map of pathways, but whenever I go somewhere it’s like this. I’m happy to say I did make it out alive, even if I did get turned around a couple times – thank god those mountain bikers colour-code their trails on the trees is all I have to say.

Today’s snowshoe was a bit on the chillier side, so my picture creativity was lacking due in fact to the fear that my fingers would freeze and fall off. With a wind chill of -29 even the sunshine doesn’t take the Jack Frost nip from your nose, but I’m not complaining.

As I write this cozily sitting on my couch with a cup of tea, the sun has set. Do I dare ask that it return tomorrow?  

I'm a hopeless romantic...

I don’t know about you, but I’m over the commercialized Valentine’s Day crap gifts. But before I choke on heart candies, and die surrounded with teddy bears holding hearts and a chocolate mustache, there is one thing I love about this day – all the love. I blame social media for our lack of human interaction and the fact that nothing is a secret anymore. But Valentine’s Day, that is the one day you share between you and the one you love -  after your Facebook status update, of course. But when you cut out all the commercial crap, what’s left for a gift? AH – don’t freak out! All of these suggestions are easy to incorporate into your last minute Valentine's Day plans – because, let's be honest, the only people who have time to pine over every detail of this romantic day are tweeny high school girls and Nicholas Sparks.

Time for Two

That’s right – not every V-day plan has to start with lux gifts, involve champagne and end with a $200 dinner bill. I know a couple that practically go bankrupt buying gifts for one another at every special occasion, and you wanna know what I’ve learned? Couples who spend more on flashy gifts and post them on facebook are superficial, and in a relationship for all the wrong reasons. It’s probably not scientific, but hey – it’s something I’ve picked up on. So, spend some quality time together this Valentine’s Day, gift-free. Draw a bubble bath pour deux, light some candles and pour some rose. Grab the hats and mittens and go for an ice skate under the stars – bring some hot chocolate to warm you up, or better yet, warm up each other. Even something as simple as cooking a nice meal together will be sure to provide you memories that will last longer than any tacky, superficial gift. It’s a day about love after all, you might as utilize it because the other 364 days are long ones.

Write a Love Letter

Awe, oui! – nothing speaks true romance like a love letter. It is something you can cherish forever, read a million times and if it's done right, it's the only gift they'll boast about. And even though it doesn't cost a cent, it goes miles in terms of the love you feel for your significant other. My advice – don't complicate it. Words work best when they come from the heart. We know you're not Lord Byron or Ludwig so just go with what you've got. As a writer, here are some tips that will help you write the best love letter you've ever read.

Answer these questions: How does she make you feel? How do you see him/her in your future? What do you like/love most about him/her?

Try incorporating these things in: a moment/time/memory that you cherish the most with him/her. And this is where my advice comes in; don't complicate it. It doesn't have to be a big moment of a trip, in fact, the smaller the better. Remember the saying 'It's the little things that count'. Perhaps it was a time you laid in bed for hours on a Saturday morning watching funny YouTube videos, or the time you took a walk through the park on a snowy afternoon...as long as its something you cherish, tell him/her about it. Tell them why you think of this moment, and tell them something that this moment made you realize about him/her.

Really drawing a blank when it comes to the memory­ part? Let them know of a song that makes you think of him/her and write out a few lines that really nail it home for that thought.

As long as it's hand­written and not typed, it's going to be the best thing they've ever received. Love letters are all about the time you took to make your thoughts and feelings for your significant other come true on an otherwise plain piece of paper. It's a true art.

Simple Set­up

It's not all about rose pedal trails leading to a bed with impossibly crisp, clean white linens. Sure, while we appreciate seeing this 'commercial' scene in our favourite movie, it's pretty much off our check­list unless its our honeymoon. My advice – don't try to be outrageous.

Planning a night in? Make the space a little bit more romantic!

Set up some candles to have in the background, lay out the blanket, set up a bottle of wine, two glasses and some dark chocolate to nibble on (it's like an at home wine tasting, paired with a chocolate aphrodisiac!). Just because your plans are simple, doesn't mean you don't have to put any effort into them.

Going out? Set out his/her clothes. Or, have something new that you picked up for them to wear (jewellery, panties, perfume) laid out on the dressing table. Hint: Add a little note so they understand it's a cute gift, not a bash at their wardrobe choice! Does she take time putting her makeup on? Bring her a drink to enjoy while she gets all dolled up for you. Does he always warm the car up for you? Leave a little note on the seat.

The truth is, there are several little things that you can do that speak much louder in terms of love than any gift in a store. Get creative, and if all else fails – go to Pinterest!

DIY Coconut Oil Body Scrub

Okay, so I’m a sucker for expensive body scrub as much as the next girl, but with their prices slowly creeping up, my debit card is starting to talk back to me. So, I needed a solution that kept my skin silky smooth [not to mention, gleaming] and my going-out fund in check. Wah-la!

With six ingredients this body scrub not only smells delicious, but it’s very affordable; getting supplies to make 3+ jars only set me back $12.
The Coconut Oil keeps my skin soft and moisturized, which in the Canadian winters and my fair-skinned-burning summers it’s desperately needed. The oats/salt/sugar help rid my body of dry skin and if you’re the tanning type, this same step helps insure you get a deeper tan. And finally, the almond + vanilla extract make it smell incredible enough to eat - but trust me, I've tried it and lets just say,...it's better left a mystery. 

What you’ll need:

Rolled Oats [roughly ½ cup]
Granulated Sugar [roughly ¼ cup]

Kosher Salt [roughly ¼ cup]

Coconut Oil [roughly ½ cup]

Almost Extract + Vanilla Extract [optional]

Jar/Container 

 

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Baby steps

Perhaps it's because I'm more anxious on Sunday's or maybe it's due to my often overload of thoughts, but I always feel the need for an 'out' on the 7th day. Blame it on sadness, loss or just my terrible habit of keeping things to myself - I've had enough. I'm tired of waking up and faking a smile, hiding the tears the prick up at the most inconvenient of times or simply responding incorrectly to your morning 'How are you'. I'm not good. I haven't been for quite sometime now and I'm sorry if I was too afraid to say otherwise. Asking for help is not my strong suit. I can handle things on my own and would argue like a true feminist if you begged to differ. I'm also not a 'whoa is me' preacher as I truly believe and know that people have it worse off than I. Having said that, I'm also aware that what I have been through, my family has been through, in the last little while has won. I'm broken. It feels like an eternity since I've been myself. So long so that I don't know how to get her back. Everything that use to work has failed, everything I think will work does not and everything I have not thought of yet won't come. Even my creative mind has abandoned me. My eyes are forever a word away from shedding a tear and my throat is sore from clenching them back. Tylenol is now my drug of choice in hopes it will cure my constant aching head - it does not. I head to bed early in hopes of making the sadness of nighttime disappear but am far too often woken by daunting, daunting nightmares. My days are spent craving the sleep I now lack and before I know it the circle starts again. I could go on for hours, but out of everything that has happened, I still lack the selfishness to dump this on an innocent by-stander. If I could however, it would be in a package that says 'handle with care', it would be broken up into small boxes as to not overwhelm just one single person and it would be most certainly delivered at the weeks end. 

The Cure

“It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone.”

- Rose Kennedy

A look back at 2012

•    Started working at Snow Goer Canada Magazine (I will celebrate my one year on the 9th!)
•    Megan visits not once, not twice, but three times – this may be a new record.
•    Bought my car – 08’ Chev Aveo
•    Leo died

•    Had our first ever family blow up, it lasted about 2-3 months
•    Grandma Daly was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer
•    Spike got hit and killed by a car the day he was 7 months-old
•    I went to Boston for an International Snowmobile Conference (saw a Red Sox game too!)
•    We got Duke – I was still hurt and thought it was too soon, but he was too cute to resist
•    Got suckered into ATVing and competed in a Mud Bog (didn’t win)
•    Became a Girl Guide leader – Sparks are too cute
•    Got Pinterest and immediately became more creative
•    Had a 1-year anniversary (that’s a first)
•    My sisters Jamaican boyfriend arrived fresh off the plane for his 6 month visit
•    My boyfriend took me away to Blue Mountain and Scandinave Spa for my 22nd birthday
•    Grandma Park turned 90
•    Duke got hit and killed by a car the day he was 7 months-old
•    I give up...


2013, I don't know what more you can do to me so let's just make it a good one, okay?

My new years kiss - 2013

Something about myself

Music – I can’t get enough of anything by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals – they are my new fav.
Movie I can't wait to see – The Life of Pi [I loved the book]
Hairstyle Craze – Big Bun on top of my head, so cuuuute.
Guilty Pleasure – online shopping. I. just. can’t. stop.
Something I want to try – making my own granola and healthy [crunchy] snacks. 
Latest Accomplishment – making a memory book for my Grams 90th birthday out of letters from various people she’s known in her life. I learned a lot and she couldn’t stop smiling.
Style at work – Gah, I wish I could wear heels and not be looked at sill-ily. I need to move to Toronto, or New York… a girl can dream.
Favourite Christmas Song – “Baby, it’s cold outside.”
What I want – A piece of jewellery. Something that I can call my own and wear every day; antique rings are my new obsession.
Problem - I don't know what I want for breakfast. Every morning this happens... its terrible.
Someone I miss - My boyfriend [only a few more days till I get to see him]

...I can't shake - my travel bug. I am feeling very antsy lately, more so then normal. I need to work and travel or go on vacation or something...

Something I miss – People being polite, accepting and happy, whatever happened to the world?

I'm slacking at – focusing. Lately I have been brutal.

Food I'm craving – Hummus, all the time.

Can't get enough of – lip chap. The winter is making my skin so dry.

Upcoming Events – Sheepdogs Concert with Ally!

In love with – the snow. Winter is such a gorgeous time of year <3

Quote “Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” - Marilyn Monroe [my constant obsession]