THE GOODS BLOG: Erika's Precious Little Life - July Edition
Updated: Jun 18, 2021
A few days late! I guess this is what happens when I don't sit at a desk all day with plenty of time to write. You would think that I would have more free time now, but it almost feels like I have less!
June was relatively low-key, which was nice. The temperature outside is like a tropical surface of the sun almost every day, with 'feels like' temps around 30-35 on most days, and very humid. It's a very different climate compared to the west. So we've been outside a lot and trying to keep cool!
I also started a Weekly Yoga Pose Challenge, which seems to be doing pretty well! Every week I send out a new yoga pose to interested parties, and we all post photos of us doing the pose! The participants (some of you!) seem to be enjoying it and are being wonderfully creative with the photos. (The photos go up on Instagram.) Anyone can join! It's a fun little initiative that I'm pretty proud of. :)
The Montreal Fringe Festival was going on, and we went to see five plays. The plays were good, but the overall Fringe vibe paled in comparison to Edmonton's, which makes me sad since the Edmonton Fringe used to be my favourite thing that happened all year.
One pretty significant thing that occurred is that I got back in touch with Sheenah. Here's a bit of our back story... We both grew up in the same neighbourhood in Toronto and met in senior kindergarten (six years old). In grade 4 we became inseparable best friends. In grade 9 her family moved away to the States. In grade 10 my family moved away to Regina. During our first year of university Sheenah contacted me saying that she wanted to move back to Canada for school and she was very susceptible to the idea of moving to Regina even though she'd never been there. So she did and we moved in together! Then eventually I moved to Edmonton and somehow we lost touch. I never really knew why. A few years ago Sheenah moved to Montreal... And then I moved to Montreal. Clearly fate likes to keep bringing us back together. I was nervous about seeing her again because it had been about 10 years, but we finally met up and it was really nice. I think we're both different now and living pretty different lives, but it's nice to have such a lifelong friend nearby again. (Sheenah's sister Miriel also lives in Montreal now too.)
We fixed up our balcony! (Which had previously been a mess up until this point.) It's a nice little urban oasis now, in fact I'm writing this blog while laying in the hammock!
I got my tattoo fixed up! As you may (or may not) know, I got my first and only tattoo 14.5 years ago and you can imagine that it has gotten quite faded by now. So I had it re-coloured and it looks great again! It symbolizes where I came from (Toronto) and the life and friends that I had there... So it still means a lot to me till this day. Even though it's only tiny! Next I'm trying to convince Tim to get a couples tattoo with me, but he's pretty reluctant. Ha ha! He already HAS a tattoo, so it's not like he doesn't already have one. I'm working on it. ;)
Next we went to Toronto and spent about a week there! First I got to see my best Toronto friends and I got to meet Sarah's brand new baby girl, Taylor (18 days old). She was crazyadorable!! I tells you, you guys and all of your cute babies are getting my maternal juices flowing. ;) I love being close to these ladies again so much.
The main purpose of our visit was to attend Andrew and Sarah's wedding. Andrew was a groomsmen at our wedding, and Andrew and Sarah sang at our reception. Their wedding was held on Toronto Island, which was super pretty and it had an excellent view of the city. I was so glad that Tim got to be there with all of his lifelong best friends. Their wedding was a total hipster garden party, and the best part was their live funk cover band - they were amazing, best dance party ever.
Then it was me and Tim's first wedding anniversary! We stayed in Toronto to celebrate. First we did the CN Tower EdgeWalk, where they strap you to the outside of the tower and you walk around and dangle there. I loved it! I found it to be surprisingly less scary than I expected! I would have been doing handstands and yoga poses if they would have allowed me. Ha ha ha! I settled for a handstand back inside on the glass floor.
Downtown Toronto shenanigans...
We spent the night in an ultra-hip hotel called The Drake and I loved everything about the style of the place. We also had our anniversary dinner at Oyster Boy, a really great oyster restaurant nearby. We sat next to Kristin Kreuk there! (99% sure. Didn't want to ask.)
Also, we totally did that thing where you save the top of your wedding cake and eat it on your first anniversary!! I was pretty proud that we pulled it off because that cake had traveled far and wide!! Jasper to Edmonton to Montreal to Toronto... And surprisingly it still tasted really good! I'm a fan of weird traditions.
I find it very hard to believe that an entire year has passed since most of you were celebrating with us in Jasper. Again, I can never thank you all enough for being there. I know that it wasn't necessarily a convenient location, so the fact that you were THERE meant the whole world to me. I'll always remember that all of you were a part of it. You guys are locked in FOREVER! ;D
We stopped in Ottawa on our way home to spend Canada Day there. Seemed like an appropriate plan! I'd never spent Canada's birthday there before, so I was glad to have the opportunity to do it at least once. We stayed with Angela and Greg, my sister-in-law and brother-in-law who live there. The crowds around Parliament Hill were huge and it was a sea of red and white. There was a concert happening and of course a big fireworks show. It was fun!
July should be sort of quiet until the end of the month, much like last month.
Melanie is coming to visit from Toronto this weekend! I'm sure that we'll get ourselves into some trouble. ;)
We're seeing Stars and The Killers play.
We're also going to the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival (kinda the biggest "thing" that Montreal does) and seeing Aziz Ansari perform, whom I love. (I'm a huge Parks and Rec fan.)
Then we're going to Muskoka to hang out with the Golems at the family cottage. There's a yoga studio there that does standup paddleboard yoga, and I'm beyond excited to try it!!! We're then spending two nights at Hay Lake Lodge in Algonquin Park (the opposite side of Muskoka) - it's a place that I used to go to in the summer with my family growing up, so the fact that I could go there again is pretty incredible.
THEN we're off to Regina for Nadine and Kyle's wedding!!! I can't wait for Nadine to experience her wonderful day, and for me to be a part of it. Plus I'm super excited to see my family and all of you Regina ladies!!! (We should probably book our flights ASAP... Ha ha ha.)
Lastly, we're going to a book signing/discussion with Bryan Lee O'Malley. He's the author of the Scott Pilgrim series, and Tim is pretty pumped! I actually just surprised him with this news today!
I hope that everyone is enjoying tons of summer fun-fun!!!
THIS MONTH'S SHOUT OUTS!:
July 5th is Candice Weingartner's 32nd birthday!
When we first met I thought that you were the coolest because you had a trampoline in your backyard. These days I admire what a driven person you have become and how you've been able to achieve your ideal life. You've always had such an easy-going attitude in the face of situations that would freak most others out. I'm so thankful to have a friend like you and I wish you nothing but the most fabulous birthday and I hope that Ryan spoils you! I so wish that I could be at the lake dancing to the 90s jams with you that day!!! (I'll be dancing to Aqua in spirit!) Love you!
July 8th is Crystal Maffenbeier's 32nd birthday!
I've always thought of you as such a sweet and adorable person - it may be a part of being a blond. ;) I am always so inspired and amazed at what an incredible mother you are, and the wonderful person that you have become in your community. The world needs more people like you to take change and make things a better place. Jared has to spoil you and you have to have the best-ever birthday!! I love you!
July 15th is Robin Sanders' 32nd birthday!
You have always been so sweet and kind, and very selfless when it comes to your kids. You are such a strong and wonderful mother that I admire very much. Even when things are difficult you put your family first and put on a brave face to the world. You deserve to have a great birthday and to really celebrate YOU! I hope that Julian spoils you and remember that I'm thinking of you and sending my love!
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