September has come and gone so fast! The start of the school year, a new role at work, and the return to in-person events has made for a really hectic month. My routines are non-existent and “what’s normal” is foreign concept.
Write with my fountain pen. Yes! Mostly. I still love this pen. Bonus – to my surprise, one of my former students sent me another TWSBI fountain pen as a thank you gift, and I love it, too. Each TWSBI is just so beautifully designed. Even if you’re not a fountain pen user, you’d appreciate the design, I’m sure. Now that I have three fountain pens, can I call myself a collector?
Complete house projects. We didn’t have any projects on the go in September.
Stay active. Walking. But not as often as I’d like.
Host people. Oh, yes. People are over at our place a lot. We’ve had coffee chats, dinners, pop-in visits, and kids hangouts. The house is being well-used!
Travel. Sadly, no. We’ve stayed local throughout the month, visiting different areas in the Waterloo Region. The campaign trail (my beau is running for Mayor) has led us to awesome places.
Read more. Yes. Audio books have been great on my long commute. I listened to Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen, Beach Read by Emily Henry, and Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. I’ve also restarted Barack Obama’s A Promised Land. It’s making even more sense now that I’m involved in local politics.
Tame garbage. Reduce waste. Should I give up?
Floss regularly. Yes. On it! My dentist had nothing but compliments at my September check-up!
Stop procrastinating. Pretty much. There’s no time to procrastinate right now.
Have fun! Yes. Mostly I’ve been having fun attending local events and meeting all sorts of people in the Waterloo region!
I now think I need to add things to my goals list before the end of 2022 arrives.
New additions:
Do more things for me. I need to be a bit more selfish. I’ve been really busy with work and home life that some of the things that I used to do regularly have been pushed to the side. These include the simplest things like going to the mall and picking out a new mascara.
Clean out closets. This seems like such a daunting task. My office and clothing closets need a clean out. I hope to tackle these two before the end of the year.
Blog. I keep renewing domains and telling people about my White Cabana life, but should I continue? The next few months will either push me to blog more or to bid adieu.
Buy art. I think I might cross this off my list before it’s barely been on. I ordered a Christi Belcourt print as well as a print from a young, local artist Ama Liyanage. Neither are expensive, but both are lovely. I can’t wait to get each piece framed and on walls. Maybe there’ll be another purchase before 2023. Still to be determined!
Wishing all of my Canadian readers a Happy Thanksgiving!
July is definitely the best month of the year. Not only is the sun shining, but it’s my birthday month! Hooray! Every day is a reason to celebrate.
Write with my fountain pen. Yes! I love this pen.
Complete house projects. Yes. The kitchen makeover is just about complete (just need to decide on hardware), which makes me incredibly happy. The investment wasn’t large, but it has made an incredible difference to how our kitchen looks and how much more positive my mood is when I’m in it. Worth every penny. I’ll share photos again soon.
Stay active. Sort of. Walking. Walking. Walking. That’s about all.
Host people. Yes. People are constantly dropping by for a coffee, drinks, meal, or chat. We also hosted my birthday party, which was a lot of fun!
Travel. We’ve continued to cottage (it is a verb, right) this month. We did book a trip in the fall, which I’m thrilled about.
Read more. Yes. I continue to breeze through audio books. I finished This Time Next Year (easy rom com read) and An Object of Beauty. Read it. It’s a work of fiction by Steve Martin set in New York’s art and art auction world. It’s great. In my academic life, I’m prepping to teach a new course this fall, so I’m reading, reading, reading all about intercultural communication. I’ve also received a stack of books about Indigenous pedagogy, so there’s that, too. A lot on the go in my work reading life!
Tame garbage. Reduce waste. Sort of. Ongoing battle to tame the garbage. I’m also now battling the garbage delivery team. Their work is unpredictable. Some times they decide to take our compost bin and sometimes they don’t. It’s very annoying.
Floss regularly. Yes. Mostly daily still!
Stop procrastinating. Yes. There has been no time to procrastinate this month.
Have fun! Yes. Between a week of birthday celebrations and every day amusements, July was a very fun month!
This is actually my April and May update, since I was in France at the end of April, and pre-writing an updated listed slipped my mind. Here is where things stand in terms of my 2022 goals.
Write with my fountain pen. No. Unfortunately, my fountain pen broke, and I haven’t yet gone to the pen store to get it replaced/fixed.
Complete house projects. Yes. In the powder room, everything is done except for the delayed delivery of the toilet roll holder. In the kitchen, our sink and faucet have arrived, so I’m sorting out counter top options. My beau installed a new pendant over the island, which I love. The refresh in another bathroom is nearly complete, too. I’m waiting on the delayed delivery of two hooks. In that room, we painted, installed new trim, installed new lights, updated some electrical, and upgraded the accessories. We also hired a team to clean our windows inside and out, and what an amazing difference this has made! Outside, we planted our first veggie garden. Grow, little veggies, grow!
Stay active. Sort of. We walked a lot in France, and I seem to be walking a decent amount every day at work. Beyond walking, nothing else is happening in the “stay active” department.
Host people. Yes. While we didn’t have a May music night, we’ve had people drop-in regularly for a coffee, meal, or a chat. We love having people fill our home with laughter and stories.
Travel. Yes! Hooray! A week in France in April did me good! C’est si bon!
Read more. Sort of. I have paused on audio books, but I’ll get back into them shortly. I’m reading The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles, and countless academic pieces for work.
Tame garbage. Reduce waste. Sort of. I’m still making slight improvements, but nothing worth writing about. I find this to be a challenge. The packaging that everything comes in is hard to get around.
Floss regularly. Yes. Daily. My dental hygienist didn’t give me as much praise as I was hoping she would, but I continue to floss daily. Easy peasy.
Walk regularly. Yes. See number 3.
Stop procrastinating. Yes. Especially with work. I am taking on a new role at work soon, and my workload has already increased. I feel like I’ve been forced to decrease my procrasinating.
Have fun! Yes! April and May were both great months overall. I saw friends and family regularly, and I had great catch-up phone calls with faraway friends. At work, it’s been great to see colleagues in person. The sunshine and warmth has also increased my positive attitude!
I haven’t written about fashion in a long while, but I wanted to share some of the looks from this week’s Met Gala that caught my attention. I think these white, gold, and black ensembles are classic and fitting for a gala.
Grace Atwood’s (The Stripe) 40th birthday party looked divine. I absolutely love the orchids down the middle of the table for this Roaring 20s theme party.
This year, on account of my sprained ankle (still recovering!), I cannot participate as I have in the past. There’s no way I can run or jog or even run-jog-walk 5K. Instead, I will walk 1K in Waterloo. This I can do! And I can do it while wearing pink – a lot of pink!
If you’re able to support my fundraising efforts, please consider making a donation.
For the past few several many years, I’ve had a bathroom reno on my mind. It’s a really terrible bathroom, and I’ve grown more tired of it over the last year because of, well, being home and using it more than ever before. I am still a little while away from pulling the reno trigger, but here are photos that are serving as inspiration.
It’s October 1st, which means White Cabana will be injected with pink (#WhiteCabanaWearsPink) throughout this month to raise awareness and show support for breast cancer research. I’m starting this year’s series off with a collection of beautiful images, spaces, and products I’ve spotted across the internet.
Le Hideout – nail salon, Montreal; architect: MRDK; photo: David Dworkind
Now that the cold(er) weather has arrived (it’s been hovering around 5C every morning in Waterloo), and Ontario has instituted new restrictions about the number of people allowed to gather indoors (25) and outdoors (10), I’m wondering how people will still gather in small social circles while staying warm (outdoors).
When I wrote this post at the end of August, I was already thinking about how to stay social if/when a second wave arrived. To stay social outdoors and extend BBQ season, perhaps, people may be investing in some items such as heaters and fire pits (before they sell out).
To stay warm and cozy while sitting around a firepit, BBQing into the fall months like never before, and sharing a meal with your “bubble people” on the patio, people may inject more fleece items into their wardrobe. This might be the time to browse (online) retailers that are experts in outdoor gear!
If restrictions stay throughout fall and winter, I think there is going to be an uptake in outdoor winter activities like skating, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing, which are activities that you can do with friends at a distance. I have already enlisted a cross-country ski buddy for the winter since I won’t be taking lessons like I did last winter. I think cities will (or should) ensure rinks are plentiful and trails are groomed, so these activities can be enjoyed by many people (at a distance). As for indoor activities, I think there’s going to be a rise (if not already) of activities that we generally associate with the (tech-free) past – sewing, knitting, baking, cooking, etc. People who are home and not socializing as much may find comfort in doing these activities. I have already brushed off my sewing skills, and I am eager to continue.
I came across this gorgeous home via Jen (Rambling Renovators) recently, and my jaw dropped. I love how La Shed architects were able to maintain the historical integrity of the home while adding in (many) modern elements. The stairwell is especially stunning.
2020 has been quite something. Sometimes I wake up, and I honestly think I’ve been dreaming.
I have been following the COVID-19 pandemic from the beginning. It’s consumed many of my waking hours. When I got news on February 21st that my relatives’ small Italian town had been hit by the virus, I really couldn’t stop reading the news. Seeing photos of the town in major newspapers was surreal. I mean, noone goes to the town unless you have family there. It was so bizarre to read about it from afar.
Not long after we learned about the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy, my uncle was admitted to the hospital, and he’s been fighting this deadly virus for nearly a month. We have been praying. We’ve tried to not look at the numbers. Luckily, he has made some progress this week, so we maintain hope.
The pandemic news seems fake until you know people who have been seriously affected by the virus.
In addition to concerns about family well-being, like many others, I’ve been forced to move my work life fully online. I’m grateful that I’m tech-savvy enough to make this transition, but the workload has been overwhelming. And the stories I hear from my students about stress levels about grades, exams, graduation, housing, and employment are additionally overwhelming. Everyone has so much to manage right now. It’s distressing.
Today, instead of watching the numbers rise (if you’re like me), you might consider reading this poem (or listening to it in Italian via the link below).
***
An Imagined Letter from Corona to Humans
Stop. Just stop. It is no longer a request. It is a mandate. We will help you. We will bring the supersonic, high speed merry-go-round to a halt We will stop the planes the trains the schools the malls the meetings the frenetic, furied rush of illusions and “obligations†that keep you from hearing our single and shared beating heart, the way we breathe together, in unison. Our obligation is to each other, As it has always been, even if, even though, you have forgotten. We will interrupt this broadcast, the endless cacophonous broadcast of divisions and distractions, to bring you this long-breaking news: We are not well. None of us; all of us are suffering. Last year, the firestorms that scorched the lungs of the earth did not give you pause. Nor the typhoons in Africa,China, Japan. Nor the fevered climates in Japan and India. You have not been listening. It is hard to listen when you are so busy all the time, hustling to uphold the comforts and conveniences that scaffold your lives. But the foundation is giving way, buckling under the weight of your needs and desires. We will help you. We will bring the firestorms to your body We will bring the fever to your body We will bring the burning, searing, and flooding to your lungs that you might hear: We are not well. Despite what you might think or feel, we are not the enemy. We are Messenger. We are Ally. We are a balancing force. We are asking you: To stop, to be still, to listen; To move beyond your individual concerns and consider the concerns of all; To be with your ignorance, to find your humility, to relinquish your thinking minds and travel deep into the mind of the heart; To look up into the sky, streaked with fewer planes, and see it, to notice its condition: clear, smoky, smoggy, rainy? How much do you need it to be healthy so that you may also be healthy? To look at a tree, and see it, to notice its condition: how does its health contribute to the health of the sky, to the air you need to be healthy? To visit a river, and see it, to notice its condition: clear, clean, murky, polluted? How much do you need it to be healthy so that you may also be healthy? How does its health contribute to the health of the tree, who contributes to the health of the sky, so that you may also be healthy? Many are afraid now. Do not demonize your fear, and also, do not let it rule you. Instead, let it speak to you—in your stillness, listen for its wisdom. What might it be telling you about what is at work, at issue, at risk, beyond the threats of personal inconvenience and illness? As the health of a tree, a river, the sky tells you about quality of your own health, what might the quality of your health tell you about the health of the rivers, the trees, the sky, and all of us who share this planet with you? Stop. Notice if you are resisting. Notice what you are resisting. Ask why. Stop. Just stop. Be still. Listen. Ask us what we might teach you about illness and healing, about what might be required so that all may be well. We will help you, if you listen.
French husband and wife duo Francois-Xavier and Claude Lalanne (or Les Lalanne as they became known) co-created quirky, striking sculptures that make viewers take a second (or third, fourth, or many) look. I cannot stop staring at their bird bed. I can only imagine the conversation that ensued when they were brainstorming ideas for this one!
Each year, I consider investing in a white Christmas tree. There are so many in the marketplace at the moment, and a lot of them look so lush. And a white tree would fit perfectly into my home!
But every year, I end up with a live Christmas tree. I’m drawn to the smell, mostly, but I also like their irregular shape. Yes, having a live tree means there’s a lot of regular needle clean up, but what does it matter if I vacuum a little more than usual at this time of year? The live tree makes me happy, and my collection of ornaments stand out against the dark green.
1.Music. I’ve been listening to Lizzo for a while now on Spotify. Do you know her? You might have heard her song Juice or Truth Hurts. Whether you have or haven’t heard her yet, you may be interested in seeing her show at NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series. Doesn’t her music just make you want to move?
When you’re done moving, and you need to relax, listen to this playlist of relaxing songs. Apparently research has shown that listening to the song Weightless by Marconi Union “resulted in a striking 65 percent reduction in participants’ overall anxiety, and a 35 percent reduction in their usual physiological resting rates.”
2. Books. I listened to Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules of Life audiobook over the last couple of weeks. Jordan Peterson is a controversial academic who has risen to celebrity status in the last few years. I have followed his work on and off for several years, and I have kind of sat on the fence regarding my alignment with his ideas. The book, however, was an interesting and informative read. I learned a lot. The section on listening and thinking critically caught my attention and made me think not only about my social interactions but also my work environment. I thought about my own listening skills and what and how I teach at the university.
I also listened to David Sedaris’s Calypso, and I really enjoyed it. I laughed out loud all the way through! And I loved the chapter “Your English is So Good” where Sedaris reflects on curious words and phrases in languages such as Japanese and English. In English, for example, he comments on the word “awesome” and the concept of “upselling” in America. He also comments on the “concern for hydration” and why we carry bottled water everywhere we go. I laughed so much! I listened to this chapter twice!
3. Movies. As you may recall, I have an ongoing list of things to do/see/read/watch from my friends and family as part of my 40th year challenge. One of the movies that was on the list was Goodfellas, so I watched it last week. Oh my goodness – why had I never seen this? I loved it. I liked the character development, the dialogue, the cinematography, and the clothing (hellos 70s and 80s). Have you seen it?
4. Instagram. I’m thinking of taking a complete break from Instagram. I lose track of time when I’m aimlessly scrolling through posts. Recently, I watched a time-lapse video of a blogger/influencer/instagrammer making breakfast and then packing it up for the freezer. Why? Why did I watch it? I didn’t learn anything. I wasn’t entertained. What do you think? Should I give it up for a while? Do you still like it? Are you inspired?
5. Relaxing. I have been making more of an effort to relax (see point 1 about relaxing music). We all know I like to stay busy, but I think I need a touch of downtime in my life, so I stay happy and healthy. Last weekend, I shut off all notifications on my phone (and I have since kept them off), and, to my surprise, it didn’t take long to get comfortable with the lack of constantly-checking-of-the-phone. I’ve also gone through the free 10-day basic meditation series via the HeadSpace app, which seems to calm me down at the end of busy days. Just yesterday, I read this post by Julie Zhou over at Wit & Whimsy about solo rituals, and I love the idea. Zhou’s final comment sums up the solo ritual: “Which is all to say—there’s no one perfect solo ritual! The only rule is this. That for at least a single hour, once a week (ideally), you are not working, not useful, are exuberantly, wildly, radically unproductive. Everything else is, as they say, your party.” Do you have a solo ritual?
In Italian, the evil eye – or il malocchio – is a superstition of bad luck caused by envy. If one brags too much, then others would become jealous of the person’s happiness and cause destruction in their life. To prevent the evil eye, avoid making people jealous, or carry an charm like a horn (as many Italians do).
In the fashion and design worlds, the evil eye constantly makes an appearance in jewelry, accessory, and clothing collections as well as in trinkets and knick knacks. Here are two that recently caught my eye (wink!).
I know there are many fans of moody, dark, and colourful kitchens, but white kitchens are more appealing to me. What side of the kitchen colour wheel are you on?
I’m due for a few upgrades in my own BBQ tools. I’m consulting lists like this and this for advice, but if you have some go-to recommendations, please let me know!
1.Travel. One of the things I’m thankful my parents did for me was to expose me to languages and countries of the world. They traveled with two young kids all over the world, and even though I may not remember much from those early days of travel, the stories and photos show the excitement of exploring foreign places. The travel bug has stayed with me all of these years, and while I may have made return trips to some favourite spots (Florida, North Carolina, France, Italy), I’m always grateful to explore new places. Japan was on the top of my travel list for so long, and I am thankful that I was able to make it happen this year. I know travel is a luxury for many people (Japan, overall, was an expensive two weeks), but I think it is so important to try to set aside funds to explore places near and far. Travel is such a rewarding learning experience (and we all know that I’m all about learning!).
3. Life is too short. Just two days ago, a colleague was hit by a car and died. She was just walking on the sidewalk midday on a sunny afternoon. It’s crazy. Just like that, her life was taken away.
4. Book. I have started listening to Multipliers: How Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter by Liz Wiseman and Greg McKeown. So far, it’s interesting.
5. Netflix. I started watching Schitt’s Creek. I’m laughing my way through it. I started watching it a while ago, but never got into it. Now, I’m into it. Have you watched it?
Several people on Instagram and in real life have told me they are now adding Japan to their travel bucket list after seeing my photos on Instagram and hearing my stories. This makes me so happy! If you like art, architecture, food, organization, and heated toilet seats, go! You won’t be disappointed!
Instagram posts only share so much, though, and I have more to say about my adventures. So if you’d like to read on about some things I noticed about traveling in Japan, please do! If not, that’s okay, too. I understand that Japan isn’t everyone’s cup of (matcha) tea!
prayers and wishes at the Toshogu shrine, Nikko
1.Communication. Before I left, several people told me that they thought I was brave to travel so far. I tried to assure people that I wasn’t nervous about traveling to Japan (yes, even considering the distance and the language). I don’t think they believed me though. To be honest, I was mostly curious about how I would fare given a major language barrier. But I also figured that I could use Google Translate and hand gestures to get my points across. And that’s what I did. The combo worked perfectly well.
It was rare to encounter people in Japan who spoke English. The people in hotels generally spoke English at an advanced level, but not everyone. I booked all of my hotels in advance (via Expedia, Agoda, and the hotels directly), so check-in was always smooth.
Some train attendants spoke English, but not everyone. To book train tickets, I used the automatic machines at stations to load up my Pasmo card (like a train/metro card), and since the machines had an English option, adding money to my card was quick and easy.
A lot of restaurants have photos on their menus, plastic replicas of their dishes, or English menus, so figuring out what to eat wasn’t generally an issue. Since I’m not allergic to anything, I was never concerned about what I ordered. If I didn’t recognize something, but I liked it, I just ate it. If I didn’t like it, I didn’t eat it. So simple. I pointed to a lot of things during food orders at restaurants and markets. If you’re allergic to something, I would make sure you have this written in Japanese to show the servers. Don’t count on anyone knowing English.
seafood at the market
2. Transportation. Using public transportation (buses, trains) was so easy. Unbelievably easy! I wasn’t expecting it to be so easy, but it was. I used Google Maps every day (and hour and minute), which worked out extremely well. Google Maps would tell me what bus to get on at what time and in what direction. It told me when to transfer to what train on what platform and at what time. It also gave me options for routes, pricing, transit, and walking.
Since the Japanese train system is advanced, well-connected, and efficient, I didn’t ever stress about not catching a train (because I knew there would be one soon after) or about a delay. Google Maps provides notifications of delays, but I only experienced one short delay on a subway line during my two weeks away. It wasn’t an issue at all.
The Pasmo card took me everywhere I needed to go – as in, it worked in Tokyo, Nikko, Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe. I didn’t need to switch transit cards for each city! Beyond refilling my Pasmo card, I bought tickets for the high-speed train (Shinkansen) once in Nikko (at an automatic machine) and once in Kobe (at the Shinkansen ticket counter (interacting with an attendant who spoke perfect English). I didn’t book any of my long trains in advance. I just went to the station, and within a half-hour, there was my train.
One option for long distance train travel is to invest in the JR Rail Pass, but after looking up some schedules and prices online before I left Canada (at Hyperdia), I realized that I wouldn’t be saving so much money with the JR Pass, and that I’d rather just take the “figure it all out once I land” approach. I think I spent between $400-500 for all my transportation costs (i.e., local trains, buses, high speed trains).
train station
3. Hotel room sizes. Everyone says that hotel rooms in Japan are small. And you know what? They are. I was very happy with all the hotels I booked, and I would stay at each of them again. With the exception of one (Kai Nikko), all of my hotel rooms were very small. I don’t even know where a full-size luggage would have fit or how two large pieces of luggage would have fit. My carry-on fit perfectly everywhere I went, and I unpacked my stuff everywhere I went, too. There were always plenty of hangers and cubbies for my things. I was traveling solo, so every room I had worked out perfectly. If you need to share a room, you might need to look at different hotel options than the ones I’ve listed below.
4. People. While I didn’t encounter many people who spoke English, everyone I did meet was extremely polite, kind, and helpful. On the bus. In restaurants. On the subway. People smiled. People laughed when communication went poorly. People appreciated trying to communicate with Google Translate. It was awesome! At Kai Nikko, I met a Japanese mother and daughter who didn’t speak any English, but through Translate and gestures, we managed a bit of communication. These ladies were so sweet. They even saved me a seat for the hotel’s evening dance show. So nice!
5. Cleanliness. The five cities I went to were very organized and clean. Tokyo, my first stop, shocked me. How can a city with over 9 million people remain so clean? I was very surprised! There aren’t public garbage cans, so maybe that’s why the streets remain so clean. Japanese people don’t eat in public, so there was no litter related to street eating and drinking. Subways, too, were incredibly clean! It made traveling around big cities that much more enjoyable. The cleanliness and orderliness of the cities and towns made me feel calm, in fact!
at the Zen Garden, Kyoto
6. Wi-fi access. You may be wondering how I stayed connected while away. Japan has this figured out for tourists, too. There are two main options to stay connected: Pocket wi-fi or SIM card. Pocket wi-fi is a little gadget that you pick up and drop off at the airport. It gives you unlimited wi-fi access for your desired number of days.
Another option is to buy a SIM card for the duration of your stay. If you have an unlocked phone, you can install a Japanese SIM card and get connected within a minute. I went this route because I didn’t want to carry around another gadget with me (and worry about it losing power and such). I bought a SIM card (unlimited data) and had it sent to me in Canada before I left (from Japan Rail Pass). I wanted to feel a bit more prepared, and I didn’t want to deal with finding a SIM card seller at the airport after such a long journey. I think my SIM card with unlimited data for a 16-day period was under $50 CAD (including shipping). Next time, I would just buy my SIM card when I arrive at the airport. There were SIM card vending machines everywhere.
Hotels and many department stores offer wi-fi, too, so if you don’t want unlimited wi-fi, you could connect in these places when you need it.
so many flowers
7. Money. Cash. You need cash. I used my credit card twice. In two different stores. Stores and restaurants generally take credit cards, but I think cash is preferred and easier. I bought meals at some old-school restaurants and at the market, so cash was essential. I tried to add money to my Pasmo card with my Mastercard, and it didn’t work, so cash it was!
If you run out of cash while you’re there, not to worry. You can take out money with your Canadian bank card via an ATM that you’ll find at convenience stores like 7-11 and Lawson (they are everywhere!). My bank (TD Bank) charged me $5 each time I withdrew money in Japan, FYI.
bamboo forest, Kyoto
8. Toilets. I miss these. Seriously! The Toto Toilets I experienced in Japan were awesome! They are toilet/bidet combos, and, best of all, many of them have heated seats. Heated! Enough said. (Don’t be surprised if I dedicate a whole other post just to Toto toilets!)
10. Be an early bird to avoid crowds. I traveled to Japan during cherry blossom season (so pretty), which meant that it was high tourist season! In Kyoto, especially, there were busloads of tourists from everywhere at each of the very popular sites. In Kyoto, for example, if I wasn’t somewhere by 8am, I would be surrounded by the busloads of people, and I would hate it. So, I woke up early, ate breakfast early, and got on my way! This meant that when I saw the Torii (orange) gates or the Bamboo Forest or the Philosopher’s Path, I went when it was calm and peaceful. I was grateful for this. When I visited the Golden Temple mid-day, on the other hand, I didn’t find any zen or peaceful moments. Not ideal for someone like me.
If you have any questions about my itinerary or experiences, let me know! I’m happy to share!
1. Art in Waterloo. I had quite the art-filled week in Waterloo last week. I saw jazz at TWH Social, Barry Ace‘s exhibit at the Robert Langen Art Gallery, and the KW Symphony at the Centre in the Square. On top of this, I had a tour of Google Waterloo, which was full of awesome design details. For a small(ish) region, Waterloo has much to offer those keen about the arts.
2. Netflix. I watched The Age of Adaline recently It stars Blake Lively as a woman who never ages. There is, as per the romantic movie genre, a love story, too. Beyond the story and the acting, I enjoyed the moody decor and the fashion across eras.
3. News. I am very interested in the #CollegeCheatingScandal, and I am tuning into Twitter every day to see what people have to say about it. I have many degrees as you know (professional student!), and I teach at a university, so this news is definitely of interest to me. Too bad people don’t use all their extra money to do some good in the world. Too bad.
4. Work. I learn so much from my students. It’s pretty amazing all the things they’re interested in and all that they research. This week, they shared research they’ve done about bitcoin, marijuana, and Uber (just to name a few of the broad topics).
5. Weeknight entertaining. I generally save my entertaining to the weekend, but for some friends, weeknights work best, so this week, I whipped up some bruschetta, created a charcuterie plate, and ordered Thai food. It was easy, low-key entertaining, and it was nice to spend time with friends without having to worry about a full dinner prep and clean-up on a weeknight. I think I’ll do it again as it was a nice way to break up the week.
If you’ve seen my house, then you’ll know that I have a several white-on-white art pieces. I have a trio made by nephews in my living room, framed white doilies in my dining room, and a piece stitched by a friend in my office, to name a few. Texture in each of these pieces is definitely important to make the work interesting.
The three spaces shown here highlight gorgeous white-on-white artwork. Even against white walls, they definitely stand out!
Blogger, designer, and artist extraordinaire Christine Dovey has just launched a home goods collection with Hudson’s Bay. It is pink and feminine and edgy which is completely in keeping with Christine’s design aesthetic. I spotted the collection here in Waterloo over the weekend, and it is lovely! My favourite piece was the all-white coverlet (big surprise, right?). Today, though, I’m infusing a bit more pink into this two of a kind feature.
1.Monday. The week started off, well, not great. I left my laptop in Toronto, I got a couple of unnecessary parking tickets (seriously – a couple!? Who gets a couple on one day!?), and major winds made my commute less than fun. I wanted to fall asleep and wake up to springtime sun. But, nope, didn’t happen. The week continued. It sort of got better, but it still wasn’t my most fun or memorable week. C’est la vie!
2. Oscars. I didn’t watch the Oscars. On account of my forgotten computer, I had much work to catch-up on, so the Oscars wasn’t a priority. Instead, I got the highlights on Twitter and Instagram. I know the Oscars are about recognizing brilliance in movies, but I was distracted by many of the gowns that floated across the red carpet. There were plenty of capes, pink, and sparkle. Regina King looked stunning in white, and Ashley Graham looked beautiful in black Zac Posen. Tina Fey looked lovely in royal blue and Helen Mirren in soft pink. I think my favourite gown was by Alexander McQueen worn by Lady Gaga. I didn’t love her hair, makeup, or jewelry that everyone else was raving about, but as soon as I saw the dress, I loved it.
And Selma Blair. Oh, Selma. I loved her soft, colourful dress. She looked incredible. I didn’t know she had been diagnosed with MS. Did you see her interview on Good Morning America? I cried.
It’s a cookbook, yes, but Mimi also weaves in stories of her home and family throughout. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Mimi makes me want to move to France and follow in her footsteps. Not that I have looked up properties for sale or anything…hmm…okay, so maybe I have.
4. Milestone birthdays. My sister and I had a chat about my upcoming birthday. It’s a milestone birthday…hint…I’m not 20. She asked me what I wanted to do, and, really, I have no idea. How’d you celebrate your big number birthday?
5. A Video. Need to smile today? Watch this video.
I’m definitely getting back my travel bug in 2019. Since I was consumed with work/MBA/book writing/renovations for the last few years, traveling wasn’t a top priority (but, yes, it is always a priority). But in 2019, I making travel a top priority. And I’m beyond excited and grateful for what’s to come. I’ll be heading to Paris in the new year, which makes me very happy as it’s one of my most favourite cities and it’s been five years since I was last there, so I’m excited to be back.
The last time I was there, I shared this apartment with two friends. It was perfect. Since that place is too big for this trip, I get to do hotel/apartment research! Who else thinks that travel planning is almost as much fun as the actual trip? I do! I’ve been scouring many hotels and AirBnB spaces, and, oh my goodness, there is so much beautiful design out there in the world! Just when I think I have found the most interesting space, I come across another one. And another. And another one after that. It’s great! And today I’m sharing some of my finds.
Gorgeous, right? These are on the pricier side of places to stay, so I may do a round up of gorgeous spaces at more affordable price points, too, if you’re interested.
I’m thrilled to share the news that White Cabana has been nominated for the “Best Written Blog – International” as part of the Amara Interior Blog Awards. If you’d like to vote (please!), you can do so here.
Way back in December, I had a fight with one of my bifold doors. And that was the last push for me to replace it with a more convenient door set-up. I said #byebyebifold to those doors, and imagined a better door future for my home.
After meeting the Metrie team at Blogpodium last fall, I reached out to them with my disaster door dilemma, and they were generous to offer up some replacements. It’s now April, and I have had functioning double doors for a couple of months now. Oh, the changes that these doors have had to the look of my home and functionality of my space has been incredible!
The short piece of my advice I have is: If you’re contemplating a door upgrade, stop contemplating. Do it.
In my mind, I knew the Masonite Lincoln Park doors from Metrie were more modern than my plain slab doors, and I knew that upgraded hardware would add another level of modernity, but when everything came together, I really couldn’t believe the transformation. You don’t even want to know how many times I said “I love my doors!”
So, let’s take a walk down reno memory lane, shall we?
I had two of these basic bifold doors in my home:
I hated – yes, hated – them both!
The fight with my main floor bifold door resulted in this situation:
Upstairs, I had another bifold (the one on the left):
I lived with this bifold mess for a couple of months while I sorted out my replacement and installation plan.
And then…after installation day, a couple of days of painting, and new hardware, I ended up with this sleek transformation:
Because of a larger area of space, I was able to replace my upstairs bifold with a full-size door. This, too, has given me the impression that I have a bigger closet than before.
Look at those beauties! So modern! So efficient! The double door option works perfectly in my tight hallway. These doors open and close like a dream, and (to my surprise) my closet seems so much bigger because the doors fully open, and I can access every bit of the closet space. The doors and trim make my house feel brand new!
As anyone who has completed a renovation knows, one project will inevitably lead to another (or many others). While my main purpose with the interior door project was to replace two bifold doors, I ended up replacing all of the interior doors in my house. Why? Because I wanted everything to match, of course! And since the new bifold doors required new casing (frame around the door), I had to replace the casing on the other doors, too. And since the casing was more modern and substantial than my original baseboards (framing on the floor), I had to replace those, too! One after the other…after the other…after the other…
So I had original doors like this:
and this:
I ordered matching doors from Northfield Trim and Door here in Waterloo. I was thrilled when my doors arrived early one morning.
The doors arrived unpainted.
And after a weekend of painting, I had fresh, white doors everywhere in my home.
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Aren’t they lovely? So darn modern!
I’m so grateful to Metrie and Northfield Trim and Door for collaborating on this project. I received incredible service along the way. Sending a special thanks especially to Justine, Jason, Bob, Mike, and Chris.
While part of this project was sponsored, all photos and opinions are my own.
Our Ontario licence plates are very encouraging aren’t they? For those of you haven’t seen them, our provincial licence plate slogan is “Ontario, Yours to Discover.” And a couple of weeks ago, I did just that! I drove north to explore the region of Grey County.
If you’re like me, you may associate this region with Collingwood and the Blue Mountains, but the county has much more to offer than ski hills. Over a series of blog posts, I’ll take you on a little 3-day tour of the region. If you’re looking for something to do this winter, take note!
I needed the sweet energy boost before I headed out to Hogg’s Falls. The falls are just around the corner from the main intersection in Flesherton (at Hwy 4 and East Base Line). There is plenty of parking, and while you can spend a while hiking the trails, you don’t need to go too far at all to reach the falls. Follow the sounds, and you’ll find them within minutes of parking. I wasn’t certain I’d be too keen on hiking in the snow, but it was absolutely peaceful.
the trail and Hogg’s Falls
As I’m not an avid winter outdoors-woman, I appreciated that I could hike for as little or as long as I wanted. Listening to and seeing the falls felt really quite magical, and I was so appreciative of the natural beauty that surrounded me! Ontario is yours to discover, remember?
Grey County has 9 waterfalls that you can explore, and 7 of them are accessible in the winter. I’m sure each one has something special to offer, and since they’re not too far away from one another, you can take in a lot even on a short visit to the area.
getting caught in the sunlight
As for my outfit? Along with my scarf, hats, and mitts, I wore this hiking outfit (I didn’t even include one piece of athletic wear!), my L.L.Bean Downtek, and Sorel boots. The boots were great. I wouldn’t recommend wearing light boots as if there is a lot of snow, you’ll need footwear with traction (and warmth).
After I had my fill of outdoor time, I drove to The Flying Chestnut Kitchen for dinner. This restaurant is worth the drive, let me tell you! I walked into the restaurant just as it was opening, and the staff was conversing about Saved By The Bell. So of course I joined in. Remember the episode when Jessi Spano took the sleeping pills? Sure do! – There’s no time, never any time! – Ha ha. Does anyone remember this episode? People who remember episodes and lines from Saved By The Bell are my kind of people. All this to say that my intro to The Flying Chestnut Kitchen was great!
Not only did I enjoy chatting with the staff, but I also feasted on a delicious dinner at a leisurely I’m-on-vacation pace. The menu changes regularly depending on the local offerings. I began my meal with an amuse bouche – a sausage roll on a layer of mustard. For the main course, I opted for the evening’s special – duck confit. The first time I had duck confit, I was a 16 year old exchange student in France. Every time I order it, I remember that time period in my life! For dessert, I was treated to a delicious mousse. The quality of everything was superb.
The Flying Chestnut Kitchen is run by Chef Shawn Adler. He opened the restaurant in the Old General Store in 2010. The restaurant is quite small, seating about 25 people, so it’s wise to make a reservation. And bring cash since it’s a cash-only restaurant!
Side note: Dark, country roads in the winter are a touch on the scary side. I went slow and used my high-beam lights for just about the whole commute. I was extra grateful for my TomTom since with it, I knew I wasn’t going to get lost, and I could see how windy the roads were via the image on my screen. Other reasons I was a touch nervous on these roads? Well, beyond the snow, I wasn’t even sure if there would be bears and such popping out of the trees. Are there bears in Grey County? Maybe it’s best that I don’t know. If you’re not used to winter driving, I would recommend that you take it slow and drive in daylight hours as much as possible. Oh – and I should also note that the next morning, I drove the same road in the daylight, and it was absolutely smooth and easy. It wasn’t scary at all! It’s amazing what darkness can do to a gal.
Now, to the Pretty River Valley Country Inn! The young staff at the inn helped me with my luggage and checked me into a cozy loft (they call them Crofts). My 600 square foot room had a main floor with a king bed, large bathroom, foyer, and seating area. And a wood-burning fireplace. Oh, the fireplace. So so good. My room also had a second floor with a pair of twin beds.
the Ben Nevis Croft at the Pretty River Valley Country Inn
I had a lazy evening in my Croft. The inn has great options for cozy nights in – popcorn and games are at the ready! I fell asleep to the sounds of the crackling fire, feeling happy for my first day of exploring Grey County.
All photos by Jordana.
Thanks to Grey County and Amanda P. for sponsoring my trip. All opinions are my own.
I learned about the luxury clothing brand Moncler when I was working in the Swiss Alps. Since then, I’ve been watching news of the brand pop up here and there in my online and offline travels. The brand was founded in 1952 in Monestier-de-Clermont, France (where it got its name), and it’s now located in Italy. France. Italy. Switzerland. Of course it’s no wonder that I’m interested in this brand!
While I have mostly associated Moncler with puffy, chic ski jackets, its collections for women, men, and children offer much more than this. Take a look.
Isn’t the last down jacket with ruffle hem sweet? Such a pretty design for colder weather. I probably wouldn’t ski in it, but it would be great for apres-ski!
My blog posts have been scattered this week because it’s back-to-school season, and, well, that means a pretty lively time of year for me! I’m taking a pause from the Friday Five to share with you my recent reading list. This post has been in draft form for a couple of weeks now, so it feels great to finally be able to press publish!
During the academic year, I barely have a chance to read books for pleasure. I know I could/should make time, but the fact is that I don’t. Between my academic day job and my MBA student life, I read a lot as it is, and when I want to relax, I don’t generally reach for a book.
Vacation, though, is a completely different story!
When I’m in Florida lounging around the pool and beach for days and days, I love losing myself in books. I love going to the local library (yes, I have a library card in Florida, too!) and browsing the “what’s new” shelves. And on my recent trip, I managed to read quite a few books. Here’s a brief recap of what I’ve read…in the order that I read them. Do let me know if you’ve read any of them, too, please!
1. Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
Paula Hawkins wrote The Girl on the Train which was a real page-turner. Into the Water was the same. I couldn’t put it down. It was an easy read, and it went by quickly.
2. The White City by Karolina Ramqvist
Truth be told – I picked up this book because of its white cover and its title. When I read the blurb on the inside flap, I learned that the book is a bestseller in Sweden and the winner of the Per Olav Enquist Literary Prize. This is Karolina Ramqvist’s first English novel. Again, it was a quick read, and I read it within one short sitting (lying by the pool!). I felt like it was a lengthier short story than a fully developed novel. The story moved along quickly.
3. Touch by Courtney Maum
I picked up this book after reading the cover jacket’s summary. It got me hooked with ideas of trend forecasting, tech, and relationships. It was another easy read that I got through quickly. I liked following the story of a trend forecaster who contemplates tech vs. touch in an ever changing high-tech world.
4. Swimming Lessons by Clare Fuller
This book was another one that kept my attention throughout. I wanted to know how the characters developed and interacted, and how the story evolved. The story flips between past and present, which I liked.
5. The Best of Adam Sharp by Graeme Simsion
Graeme Simsion was the author of the Rosie Project – a book that I quite liked, so I happily grabbed this book off the library shelf. I don’t know if it was because I was tired or uninterested, but it took me a bit to get into this story. Maybe it also was because the other books had some element of mystery to them, and this one was a love story. Once I got through the first 50 pages or so, it was easy going. It wasn’t a page-turner like some of the other books, but it maintained my curiosity about the evolution of the romance.
6. Awkward Age by Francesca Segal
I thought this book was okay. It seemed liked it could be easily made into a made-for-TV movie. It’s about family relationships, tricky family dynamics, and teenager drama.
7. Celine by PeterHeller
This was an amusing read. Part-detective story, part-family drama. Not a must-read in my opinion, but it entertained me.
8. My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella
I’ve read every book by Sophie Kinsella (as well as all the books she’s written under her real name – Madeleine Wickham). I continue to be drawn to them even though I didn’t really like the last couple of stories. The characters are sort of all the same and the story lines are fairly predictable. That said, I read this recent release, and enjoyed this light read. Sophie Kinsella books area always good for beach-side reading!
9. The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
It was fun to discover that this book was written by a Torontonian. It’s a who-dunnit, what-happened kind of book so I was happy to flip each page to learn more about the mystery and drama involved in one family’s life. I could see this being turned into a movie, too.
10. The Lying Game by Ruth Ware
So many of the books that I read over my vacation were mysteries of some sort. These books really make me want to keep reading to see how my own predictions come true (or don’t). At the start, there were several characters to get to know, but once I kept track of the action, I enjoyed learning about the characters’ personalities, their interactions, their friendships, and, of course, to see how the drama unfolded.
11. How to Be a Grown-Up
This book was written by the authors of the Nanny Diaries. The tone, pace, writing, and setting is very similar between the two books. The story line, however, is different. In How to Be a Grown-Up, the main character is a 40-something mom learning how to navigate a work environment run by millennials. She succeeds, of course, which makes for a happy ending. Predictable, but entertaining.
12. Lola by Melissa Scrivner Love
Of the books in the list up until this point, Lola was by far my favourite. I picked it up because Lola is the name of my friend’s dog (Hi K! Hi Lola!). Yes, it’s true. This book is certainly not about a dog – although there is a dog named Valentine in the book. The story follows Lola – the leader of a drug cartel – and the drama, chaos, mystery, and tension surrounding the drug world. The character development and story line were different from anything else I read, which caught and kept my attention throughout.
13. I Found You by Lisa Jewell
After Lola, I wanted to read a mystery rather than a romance novel, so I opted for I Found You. The story was progressing in the way that I thought it was, but as I read each chapter, more of the story unfolded, and there were surprises along the way. I really enjoyed this one.
14. The Gypsy Moth Summer by Julia Fierro
I ended my vacation reading with The Gypsy Moth Summer and I was pleasantly surprised. I loved this book, in fact. Like other books in this list, I enjoyed the development and interaction of the characters.
And that’s it, I think. What have you been reading? Any recommendations?
With positive testimonials from Nicole Kidman and Mick Jagger, it seems like a no brainer to stay at the Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur, India.
While there are many spaces that I could have featured in today’s post, I settled on this indoor-outdoor dining area. It looks to be traditional with a beautiful view. I wonder if Mick Jagger ate here.
In the span of just a few days, I’ve noticed several bloggers pairing olive and white in their outfits. As far as I’m concerned, white goes with everything, but I think we’ll be seeing more olive and white combinations in the coming months in the fashion world.
This colour combo is not only for fashion. As per usual, we can see a clear connection between fashion and interior design when it comes to this colour mix.
Yes, yes, I’m still interested in the does-it-all Gwyneth Paltrow. While I don’t read Goop every single day, when I do land on the website, I get totally sucked in. It happened to me last night. One health article led to a detox article led to a nutrition article led to the clothing section of this site. And I got stuck. Everything is just so darn beautiful, but here are my favourite pieces.
There are so many pretty white dresses floating around the internet. While they come in all shapes and fabrics, it’s lace ones like these that I seem to be drawn to at the moment.
From the images above, you can see how versatile the chair is. It fits well at a dining room table as it does on an outdoor patio. It can be put to use as a side chair, desk chair, or dining chair. And, you can’t tell by these photos, but the Tolix (and its reproductions) comes in an assortment of colours making it an easy piece to incorporate in diverse interiors.
I’ve been bouncing off walls for days now. My friends and family must be sick of me texting and emailing messages with an abundance of exclamation marks. People on the other end of phone calls hear my high-pitched squeals of excitement. Why you ask? Well, I know the title of this post gave it away, but…
I’m in Style at Home’s June issue!!!
Yes! You read that correctly!
I’m in Style at Home’s June issue!!!
This has me excited for all sorts of reasons!
Buying my house was one of my proudest life moments. I have been a student for all of my adult life, but all the while, I was trying to save money for my future home. Four years ago, I had just finished my PhD, moved to a new city, and bought my first house. My house. My own house. With a garage. With my money. That I earned. I was ecstatic then, and my home still brings me so much joy now.
The “before” of my house was interesting. Some of you may remember that my house came not only with furniture, but with people. Yes, people. I sold just about every piece of furniture. And I kicked out the tenants once their leases ended a month or so after closing. Yes. A house with furniture and people. Who buys such a house?
Me.
My house is in a perfect-for-me location. I walk and ride my bike everywhere. My quality of life is top-notch, and I think much of this is because of the location, size, and design of my house. Honestly. I love my house! And I’m so very grateful for all that I do and all that I have.
My house was certainly not in perfect condition (and up to my design standards) when I bought it. Little by little, I made each space in my home happy. It was a lot of work, but it was fun and rewarding work. I wanted to do as much of the work on my own, and my family lent a hand along the way – as you’ve seen with various posts over the years. Not only did I learn how to tile and how to paint an air conditioning unit (still one of my most popular posts!), but I also practiced my design skills. I created a dramatic ink-blot art wall in my main bath to detract from the grey, 80s jacuzzi tub. I curated a massive gallery wall in my office to showcase all of my art treasures. And I found and bought the perfect couch. I know people make fun of me because I can talk about my couch so much, but it’s true. It’s perfect.
Throughout this reno journey, I’ve shared a lot on White Cabana, and I’ve connected with so many people in the design blogging community. I feel so darn lucky!
Morgan Lindsay, Stacy Begg, and Donna Griffith came over bright and early one day last spring for a photoshoot. It was unreal. They worked their magic while I tried to contain my excitement. (It’s a recurring theme, can you tell?) We moved things around, and we moved them back. Stacy and Morgan organized my books beautifully, brought in a few additional accessories, and made sure each space was looking its best! Donna and her assistant set up all of their cool photography equipment throughout the house and worked quickly and efficiently to take photos of every room. This team was fun, professional, curious, and interesting!
Several months later, Bethany Little called me up for an interview. That was fun, too, because I’m usually the person asking the questions (I do a lot of teaching and researching in my day job as an academic!). While I was trying to squeeze in a question or two about Bethany’s approach to interviewing and writing, she was trying to keep the conversation on my house. Naturally! 🙂
Fast-forward a couple of more months, and then this happened…
I’m in Style at Home’s June issue!!!
Unreal. Unbelievable. And the thing is…it’s real, and it’s believable!
I have been reading Style at Home for forever. It’s a Canadian design magazine that I’ve always been drawn to because it features design spaces and ideas that are manageable, approachable, and doable. The magazine shines the spotlight on happy and inviting homes, and it gives readers plenty of ideas to incorporate into their own homes. And the team does the high-low feature like noone else! Am I right? I certainly look forward to reading it when it arrives in my mail each month! I hope you do, too!
But the June issue is certainly my all-time favourite issue. I definitely recommend you flip straight to page 44 to start reading about me and my home (no modesty here)!
If you’re a subscriber, you’ve already received your copy. If not, you should see the June issue in stores soon (it has a pink cover).
If you’d like to share your thoughts or have any questions, leave a comment here or tag me @WhiteCabana or use #WhiteCabanaXStyleAtHome on Twitter or Instagram. I’d love to know what grabbed your attention!
Finally, I must take a moment to publicly extend some official notes of thanks:
Many thanks to Morgan and Stacy for making my home look as pretty as possible. You took great care of my space, and you were professional and friendly in your approach. And funny, too!
Thanks to Donna for being an enthusiastic and positive photographer. Your photos are absolutely memorable, and I’m glad our paths have crossed both online and offline.
Thanks to Bethany for taking the time to speak with me. Your writing is inviting. You’ve written my home’s story and my approach to design with accuracy and care.
A large thanks goes out to Erin McLaughlin, Style at Home Editor, for giving the final stamp of approval. If you’re in KW, come on over! My small foyer wasn’t photographed, but it’s a tiling project that makes me very proud (marble laid in herringbone pattern).
Many thanks to other staff on the Style at Home team who have made this feature possible. I appreciate the effort that goes into fact checking!
A super generous thanks to Tim for your encouragement and excitement throughout this process.
When I have a lazy morning, I love to make waffles or crepes. Over the Easter weekend, I whipped up a batch of crepes and documented the process on my first Instagram story. Since those stories only last for a short period of time, I thought I’d more permanently document the recipe here.
I’ve tried several recipes, and while everything has turned out well, I find this crepe recipe from Bonnie Stern to be one of the quickest and easiest.
Ingredients:
3 eggs
1 1/4 cups milk
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
2 tbsp. vegetable oil or melted butter
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. butter
Steps: 1. In a blender or food processor combine eggs, milk, salt, oil, flour and salt. Blend about 10 seconds until smooth. Place batter in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let batter rest at room temperature about 1/2 hour or in the refrigerator for a few hours. If batter is too thick, thin with a little water. It should be the consistency of unwhipped whipping cream.
2. To make crepes heat an 8″ or 9″ non-stick pan. Brush pan with butter. Pour a scant 1/4 cup batter into pan and swirl to coat bottom of pan. Allow to cook 1 to 2 minutes on medium or medium high heat until browned on the bottom (you can lift up one side to check) and turn by slipping a long, thin spatula under the middle and flipping it over. Cook second side about one minute. Second side will not brown as nicely as the first. Stack crepes as they are made. Depending on your pan and your stove, it might take a few tries to get the crepes the way you like them but you can always eat the trial ones! Makes 10 to 12 crepes
 And how do I eat them? Well, since I’m a Nutella-holic, I usually have Nutella with my first crepe of the bunch. I also really like the classic sugar + lemon crepe. If you’re into more healthy options, I like mixing eggs and spinach and folding a crepe over the mixture. You could use this crepe recipe for both savory and sweet crepes.
I have lost count of the number of marble-focused posts I’ve written since starting this blog. I love my own marble kitchen countertop (now three years old and doing well), but I also love how the form and feel of marble in smaller home accessories.
As you are likely aware, I took part in my first triathlon relay this past Saturday at Lakeside (near Woodstock, St. Mary’s, and Stratford). The idea of the relay came to my friends and I after a summer BBQ just over a month ago. Our friend Chris was training for the full triathlon (750m swim + 20km bike + 5km run), but for the rest of us, we teamed up to form one relay team. Team work is all about drawing on people’s strengths, and that’s exactly what we did!
My job was the 750m swim. In preparation, I bought a pass to Moses Springer Community Centre Pool (50m lengths), and swam 2-3 times per week over the course of a month. Training at the outdoor pool was wonderful. I looked forward to my swims in the sunshine, and it was fun to meet Chris there so we could train and encourage one another. I used to swim a lot when I was a young lifeguard, so getting back into it didn’t take as much effort as I had originally anticipated. I was swimming 1000m+ front crawl on my training days, and I felt pretty good about my endurance and speed.
When TYR agreed to sponsor Chris and I, we were thrilled. Wetsuits, as any triathlon participant knows, are essential for cold lake swims and to increase buoyancy in the water. (I didn’t know all of this when I signed up for the triathlon; I learned quite a bit along the way!) Chris received the high-tech Hurricane Category 2 wetsuit with awesome chest panels and cool graphics. I received the sleek all-black Hurricane Category 1 wetsuit that made me feel like a superhero.
I hadn’t ever worn a wetsuit prior to this one, so the experience was a brand new one. It took me at least 15 minutes to put it on the very first time. The TYR suit came with booties and gloves that I wore so that the suit would slide on better and be protected from my nails. The suit also came with instructions, and I read them before attempting to squeeze into it. Basically, you should put the suit on one leg at a time, easing the legs on, straightening things out at the hips, then carefully putting on one arm then the other before zipping up the back closure. If I video-taped my experience, I have a feeling it could have made a lot of people laugh!
Due to some shipping drama, my suit only arrived the morning before the race. I only had one pre-race practice swim with it, but I’m so glad I did! In the future, I’d definitely wear it a few more times pre-race just to get used to the feeling of swimming in another layer. What I loved about wearing the suit is that (in addition to making me all superhero-like), it made me float. Such a cool feeling! And then when I swam, oh my, it made me go fast! Well, faster than without the suit, of course. Loved. It!
Race day came and it was pouring rain as we drove the hour from Waterloo to Lakeside. Rain. Ugh. Not good for a triathlon day! I was excited about the whole event – minus the rain – and eager to take part in the team relay and cheer on Chris, too. Luckily, the rain stopped before the race began, so we were all relieved.
The race announcer announced, though, that because of the warm lake temperature, wetsuits weren’t allowed. Say what? Swim in a lake without a wetsuit? No thanks. If participants used a wetsuit, then they wouldn’t be ranked in the standings. Chris and I ignored the rule and squeezed into our suits.
I’m being honest when I say that I was completely eager and excited to swim the 750m for my team. I wasn’t concerned about water creatures or slimy water plants because I knew I had the layer of protection from the suit.
But…
I was absolutely not ready for what happened when the bullhorn blew and it was go time. I took my first stroke and I basically freaked out. Okay, not a full freak-out, but I was not fully prepared for the dark water. I was disoriented from the start, and concerned that I wouldn’t be able to swim in a straight line. I’m a strong swimmer, but I was out of my element (I’m a pool swimmer from the city! In Florida, I use a floating mat in the ocean!).
This feeling of (slight) panic was new for me. The only way I could have avoided the panic was to practice lake swimming. I should have. I will in the future. The darkness was not good for my brain.
So, realizing that my regular stroke-stroke-stroke-breathe rhythm would not work, I opted for breast stoke until I got used to things. After the first turning point marker in the lake, I inserted some front crawl, but I opted for breast stroke for most of the swim. I was so thankful for the wetsuit because I know that I would have felt worse without it. Most swimmers as far as I could tell were swimming some combination of front crawl, head up front crawl, and breast stroke. A lot of people were swimming crookedly. A few swimmers were yelled at by the lifeguards because they were swimming off course. Oh man, what a casino!
Our team did really well, finishing the swim+ride+run in 1 hour and 21 minutes. It took three of us to complete the triathlon, but we did it! Chris, on the other hand, finished all three events on his own like a champ!
I’ll be happy to do another triathlon relay in the future, but I’m not yet convinced of doing all three events on my own. Two, sure. But three? How!? Does anyone have any tri experiences they’d like to share? Please do!
A million thanks to Pat B. for braving the rain and taking so many photos! Unmarked photos by Pat B. Marked photos by Zoom Photo for Multisport Canada.
Thanks to Erika for putting up with all of my panicked emails regarding the shipping drama.
Many thanks to TYR for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.
We’re heading into a long weekend here in the North, and I couldn’t be happier! It’s back-to-school season which means that my work life is extra busy at the moment. The students are back in town, and orientation week at uni starts in just a few days. My MBA courses will pick up again this week, and I’m in the final stages of prepping a new course I’ll be teaching. On top of this, of course, I have my usual work responsibilities. September is always an exciting – but uber-busy – month on my end. It has been for just about all my life!
And sometimes, in between all of the school tasks of September, my mind wanders into gorgeous design spaces. Today’s five rooms all feature two things: round mirrors and white square (or rectangle) tiles. The contrasting shapes work really well in these bathrooms, and make for a clean and modern aesthetic.
I’m still enjoying the beach life in Florida, and there’s plenty of wildlife around these parts. The turtles are nesting, the dolphins are jumping, and there are plenty of birds added into the mix, too.
In addition the the real life animals, I’ve spotted a couple of swan and flamingo pool/ocean toys. And this is what has inspired today’s swan-themed post. Let’s see what’s floating around the marketplace, shall we?
      
the Ben Nevis Croft at the Pretty River Valley Country Inn
