THE GOODS BLOG: Erika's Precious Little Life - March Edition

In my mind March equals SPRING and I am so ready to be done with winter so that I can finally start having a more interesting life! It's difficult to be motivated to get out and about when it's so goddamn cold out.

But I'm feeling pretty good! Our house is now completely unpacked and put away, which does miracles towards feeling "normal." I want to post pics of what we've done with the place, but there are still a few more things that we want to do here and there in each room, so I almost don't want to show anything until it's 100% complete. But it feels SO much better and "like us" at home now. I really feel so proud and pleased over home ownership. (Which I never thought I'd say!)

I've been going to a lot of different yoga studios to try and lock down a favourite. They all seem to be sort of what I want, but not the whole package. I really want to try to get myself up to going three times a week and making it a much bigger part of my life than ever before.

I really LOVED watching the Olympics. As an unemployed person, there really can't be anything better than all-Olympics, all the time. Montreal hosted the summer Olympics in 1976, so they had their cauldron lit, which was neat to go and see.

Tim's skills at their MOST valuable!

We've also just started to re-incorporate the usual things that we enjoy, like finding our local farmers' market (open 7 days a week), going to improv and getting back to being ourselves. Step two will be to start to discover all of the NEW things that we don't even know that we love yet.

Tim's job has been going really well, and he seems to have settled in there easily. I definitely know that he's so much happier being in charge and running his department.

And I have been finding lots of time for important things like putting the cat into pajamas... Ha ha.

But for serious, lots of people have been asking me about my plans for work and "how the job hunt is going" and quite honestly, I haven't been hunting at all. I'm pretty satisfied with being out of the 9-5 work world and I might never go back. Tim makes enough to support us both and I'm currently on EI, which seems like a major bonus. I don't want to become a lazy piece of crap that doesn't do anything... But at the same time I do not feel like I need to rush out and find a job because we need the money. I'd much rather do something because it's something that I want to do. First and foremost I have been working really hard on my food writing and putting a lot of my focus and efforts into it. Ideally, I would love to have a successful, professional and maybe even lucrative food blog (working on setting that up) but for now I've been getting as much of my work up onto Urbanspoon as possible to at least start getting my name out there. I am currently Montreal's 4th top contributor, but I shall not rest until I reach #1! There is an alternative magazine here called Cult MTL, which is essentially the equivalent to VUE Weekly (which I had been writing for in Edmonton), so there is a good chance that I will hit them up for a gig, although I really don't enjoy answering to an editor too much. Tim is so wonderful and supportive and just wants me to do whatever makes me happy.

I went to Regina for about a week (without Tim)! It was actually a great visit because FINALLY I was not bound by the amount of vacation days that I have. Another reason why I'm so happy not to have to answer to an employer anymore. Now I'm living my life and spending my time the way that I choose to. Sarah threw a Galentine's Day party, which was super fun.

I went to yoga with Carrie and Sarah.

And I went to David and Kristen's wedding, which was the driving force of my visit.

Slow dancing with Tim.

I finally had a lot of time to spend hanging out with friends, which was super awesome! I loved catching up with all of you guys who were around!! (And of course my family as well.) Sarah painted me a beautiful oil painting for Christmas/my birthday/housewarming which I will forever cherish.

And then when I got home I had a cute husband waiting for me. ;)

It was a great week away, but at the same time, it's nice to be back home to spend more time settling in and getting more and more used to things and spending our time exploring.

March is going to be all sorts of crazy.

Tonight we're going to the Imagine Dragons/The Naked and Famous concert.

This coming weekend three of Tim's friends are coming to visit from Ontario, and they'll be our first official house guests.

Then we're also going to Muskoka for a long weekend, to spend time with Tim's family at their cottage.

Then at the end of the month my crazy Hedley "tour" begins, and I'm seeing their concert in Montreal and then driving to Ottawa to see them there as well with Enobong! (Those two shows are only the beginning...)

If anyone wants to come visit, the door is officially OPEN and I'd love for you to come visit Montreal! In the meantime, I will continue to do my best to come and see all of YOU!!! Just incase you didn't get my text, I do have a new Montreal phone number now and it's 514-502-3661.

THIS MONTH'S SHOUT OUTS!:

March 7th is Susan Murphy's 32nd birthday!

I am missing you a lot and our monthly hangouts! It's not the same without my partner in blond crime. ;) I hope that Matt spoils you a ton for your birthday and that everything is wonderfully happy in your world! I love you my lady!

March 12th is Kristen Smith's 30th birthday!

Holy crap Kristen, YOU ARE 30! Welcome!!!! I'm sure that you'll find that it's actually quite fabulous. ;) I love you SO much, more than words can say, and I think that that goes without saying. You are going to ROCK 30, being the coolest, most beautiful Mom. I hope that Dallas spoils you as well and that little Vayda finds a way to help! You mean so very much to me and I think about you every day and am so grateful for you.

March 19th is Sarah Swalm's 3rd wedding anniversary!

Spending your amazing wedding with you and Adam in Las Vegas was one of the best memories and the most wonderful vacation! We loved every minute of it and I can't believe how quickly three years as flown by. So much love to you two!