Friday Favourites - 2023 Edition

 

Some of my favourite things from 2023:

Song - You Should Probably Leave by Chris Stapleton

Movie - Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning

TV Show - The Bear 

Book - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

YouTube Video - Alex Murdaugh Trial Live Stream

Meal - Dinner at Carbone in Miami. Everything was perfection.

Drink - Lemon Water (with honey and hot water when sick, with Perrier as a "cocktail", and with apple cider vinegar and cayenne pepper in the morning).  New hack, freeze the gingerroot and it's easier to grate.

New Clothing - Athleta Tank Tops

Toronto Moment - Checking out the new renovations at the Skydome (Rogers Centre) where the Blue Jays play.  The new areas are so cool and really enhance the ballpark experience. 

Canada Moment - Pulling together to fight the forest fires.  They seemed to be all over the place and our brave first responders did what they always do and saved homes, land, and people where they could.

House Thing - Of all of the renovations we did, it's pretty hard to choose one thing, but I think it's our bathroom.  However not sharing photos yet, I need to organize the "unveiling" post.

Restaurant - Walrus Pub and Beer Hall

E Thing - E is in Grade 7 this year and he has found a nice group of friends.  We finally got him his own phone and it has been a nice way for him to mature and keep in touch with his friends, and us. He still needs some prompting to make non-video game plans, but he's getting there!

Q Thing - Q walks to school with E every day.  I think he likes this independence and seeing the other kids on his way to school. He's only in Grade 2 but getting to walk without a parent is a big deal to him.

Dave Thing - Dave changed jobs, in the same space, but new company.  As usual he is well-liked by his new colleagues and he enjoyed a couple of work trips to Florida and Vegas in the fall.  

Memories - Jay Peak skiing in a blizzard, and watching the parade at Magic Kingdom

Linking up with Andrea and Erika.

Monthly Musings

 

1. How do you ring in the New Year?

We usually find ourselves at a house party.

2. Any special New Year's Eve or New Year's Day traditions?

My traditions always revolve around food - we often try to get some oysters for New Year's Eve and then have a big brunch on New Year's Day.

3. Favourite New Year's Eve memories?

Remember Y2K?  That New Year's I was at a party and when the clock changed to 12:00 am of the year 2000, someone at the party unplugged the TV so we would think something was happening.  But it was all fine of course! I also remember going to a party at a hotel in downtown Halifax one year, and also planning a gathering at Garrison's Brewery in Halifax.  One year when it was just Dave and me, we had oysters and he stabbed his hand with the oyster opener.  He was okay but it did take a bit of the wind out of the night! A couple of times when I was a private practice lawyer, I had some New Year's Eve closings (when businesses are sold) which kept me there all day and into the evening to make sure everything was signed and closed. Another year we went downtown to watch the World Juniors Hockey game and then talked to Dave's cousin and his wife on the phone and did limoncello shots. Needless to say we were in bed before midnight that night!  And the last few years at a neighbour house party has always led to some dancing, singing, and games. 

4. Show us some New Year's Eve outfits.

I like to wear something sparkly.

5. What are you most looking forward to in 2024?

Getting our house in shape. Our new furniture will arrive in a couple of weeks and we have more organizing to do.  I only have one trip planned (to Newfoundland in June) but I'm hoping to get a few more things in the calendar. 

6. Asleep by 10:00 pm or ring in the New Year?

We usually stay up.

7. Do you have a word or goals for 2024?

Don't wait.  We don't know what is around the corner and if you wait to take the trip or throw the party or do the renovation or change jobs until it's the "right" time, that time may never come.

8. Best self-care tips to share in the New Year?

Schedule it. Carve out time in your day for a workout, book the massage, plan for quality time with spouse, kids or friends.  Sometimes you may need to make adjustments but if it's already in your calendar, then you'll be more likely to do it.

9. Paper planner? Electronic planner? None? Favourite brands or apps?

I just use my Outlook calendar from work and put in all my personal things too (they are private to everyone else).  And then I just invite Dave to those family things so they are in his Outlook too.  We got used to having a wall calendar this fall so I think we will continue with that so the kids can see what's going on too.

10.  Black-eyed peas of New Year's Day - yea or nay?

I first thought this was referring to the song by the Black-Eyed Peas "I Gotta Feeling", which I've heard is the unofficial theme song for New Year's Eve, and my answer would have been "Sure!", I like the Black-Eyed Peas, but then I realized this meant the food.  So, no we don't have these anytime of the year, let alone on New Year's Day.

Linking up with Holly and Patty.

2023 - Year in Review

Looking back at 2023.

 January

We rang in the New Year with friends.

E started his ski racing career, and we started skiing at a new hill (Mount St. Louis-Moonstone)

February

We skied a lot.

We celebrated Valentine's Day.

March

We went to Quebec for March Break - skied at Bromont and Sutton...

... and Jay Peak (in Vermont).

We celebrated Dave's birthday.

April

We celebrated Easter.

And went to a Blue Jays game, roof open in April!!

I went to Mexico for work.

May

All of the sports got underway.

June

We went to California (for Dave's work trip).

We celebrated my birthday. 

We started our house renovations and moved into the basement.

July

We went camping at Killbear Provincial Park.

And the boys went to overnight camp.

I golfed most weeks.

We camped at Bruce Peninsula National Park.

August

Dave and I golfed together.

We did some rock climbing,

The boys spent time with Dave's parents.

September

We went for a bike ride at the Pinery Provincial Park.

We visited the zoo.

The boys went back to school (Grade 7 and 2).

I went to Nova Scotia for a weekend.

Dave's team won the Men's Night Trophy.

We celebrated Q's 7th birthday.

October

We went to Disney (all four parks and a water park)...

...and Universal.

We celebrated E's 12th birthday.

November

I went to Florida (South Beach and the Keys)

We went to a Marlies hockey game.

December

We moved back into (the upstairs of) our house!

We celebrated Christmas.

This was a different year for us - I started out with a surgery with a three week recovery time, I fell twice skiing (not hurting myself too badly but a couple of minor injuries had me moving differently), Dave changed jobs, we lived in our basement for 5.5 months, lived through a major house renovation, and I had a very busy year at work with lots of challenges.  However, as you can see above, we got to do many amazing things in the midst of this - and we are grateful for all of it!