What's Up Wednesday

 

I didn't get around to posting this yesterday but never like to miss a "What's Up Wednesday" post. 

What we're eating this week...

Sunday - Steak, Boiled Potatoes, and Green Beans

Monday - Tacos

Tuesday - Pasta

Wednesday - Fish Sticks and Sweet Potatoes

Thursday-Saturday - Your guess is as good as mine!

What I'm reminiscing about...

Five years ago we were still in the early days of COVID lockdowns, not sure what was going on and when restrictions would be lifted.  But it was this time when we started venturing outside to get some more fresh air, staying mostly in our backyard or riding bikes in the parking lot.  What a time it was!

What I'm loving...

I bought these little shorts to go under dresses and skirts. They aren't shapewear but instead prevents chafing and provides a bit of protection when sitting on the subway.  They are so comfy and will help with walking around in the summer and when traveling.

What I'm dreading...

I love cherry blossom time at High Park, but I have to be there for about 8 hours this Saturday and again on Sunday and sometimes dealing with the crowds can be tiresome!  We will be taking the subway or our bikes for sure as we will never be able to find a parking spot.

What we've been up to...

Dave has been working on the lawn, as he does. We think we want to tackle the front yard landscaping this year.  We have never liked the big mound of dirt covered with lily of the valley.  We'd prefer to have more grass and a different area for plants.  We'll see what we can do with the space.

What I'm working on...

At work right now I am working on client contracts, preparation for the audit and risk committee, reviewing some insurance matters, and getting some equipment financing documents signed, among other things. 

What I'm excited about...

The election results with Mark Carney and the Liberals to form government.  Now it is a minority government but still a strong showing from where the Liberals were four months ago.  I will be watching keenly to see how this new government takes shapes and deals with Trump.  

What I'm watching/reading...

Hockey playoffs (Go Leafs!), The Studio, Amazing Race, and The Great British Baking Show. 

I'm reading a Genievieve Graham book now.  You can see my March and April book reviews here.

What I'm listening to...

I found a "Stress Release" playlist the other day to play.  It kind of sounds like what you'd hear while getting a massage, it's "gentle piano and ambient music" and it works well for when I need something to listen to while at work but am not in the mood for pop songs with words.

What I'm wearing...

Some new sneakers.  I finally settled on a pair of casual sneakers after looking for a long time.  I chose some Nike Air Max and Gamma Force.  Dave also got a couple of pairs of casual sneakers. 

What I'm doing this weekend...

It's High Park Little League Opening Day. Q has a ball hockey game and a t-ball game. It's Men's Opening Day at the golf club for Dave.  As well as a wine and cheese party to attend.

What I'm looking forward to next month...

Of course our trip to Paris! But also the start of t-ball season, a work trip, and a visit from my mom.

What else is new...

I joined the golf club as "Learn to Golf" member. Not that I need to learn to golf, but it's a very affordable way to join the club and get a few rounds in.   I'm hoping to get to a few ladies' nights this summer. 

Weekend Recap

On Friday we finally had some good warm weather.  Dave arrived back from his work trip, and I walked up to meet a colleague for lunch.  Since Dave was back we could catch up on our family shows - Amazing Race and the Baking Show.  

On Saturday morning I got up to head out for a run. When I got back Dave was working on the lawn, and we got E to go out and help him.  This is a typical teenager outfit - winter coat and sandals.  

Meanwhile Q was working on some of his homework, before he scrambled outside to help with the lawn too.

After lunch we all went to High Park to watch Q’s ball hockey game.  The weather had cooled down considerably and I was glad I brought my jacket!

E got out for 9 holes of golf while the rest of us got ready for the hockey game.  First up was a cute little pocket Negroni that I found at the liquor store the day before.  It was pretty good, but of course my own mix is better.

We settled in to watch the game, and ended up disappointed that the Leafs couldn’t pull out the Game 4 win.

Sunday involved church, groceries, laundry folding, clean sheets, and lots of boys at our house. Q had three friends over and then E had four friends over, with just a but of overlap.  There was a brief nerf gun battle and some outdoor time but then some video game time which was a little less hectic. This is the group of boys getting some water.  

Q also got a haircut, which you can kind of see below, he’s at the far right of the photo.

We enjoyed a steak dinner, watched Andor with the boys, and Dave and I watched The Studio before heading to bed at a decent time. 

March and April Books

If you are in Canada and didn't vote in the advance polls (like me), get out there today to vote in our Federal Election.  This is the most important election of our time and wouldn't it be amazing to see record number of voters this time!

I read a couple of books in March and April to tell you about today: 

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler

This book is the fictionalized story of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald (the author), how they met, married, and spent their years together.  

I got this book for Christmas and when I started reading it, I realized I had read it before.  I seem to remember that the first time I read it, I really enjoyed reading about the parties and clothes and the time spent away in Europe, but this time I was mostly just annoyed with Scott and Zelda. Perhaps I am more mature now and could not relate to their irresponsibility. 

Real Ones by Katherena Vermette

This book is told from the perspective of two sisters.  They are Metis through their father's side and their mother is French, but has been pretending to be Indigenous artist.  A journalist has uncovered this scam and it's become a public story. The sisters, and other side characters, have to deal with the aftermath and consider how their own identities are impacted by this.  

This book is fine, it's always good to read about stories different than your own and the Indigenous voice is important for us to hear, but honestly I found this book a little boring.  I wasn't invested in most of the sisters' personal stories and the few things I was interested didn't feature in a central way. I read another book by this author, about the same family, but different members of it, the Strangers.  I liked that other one enough, but this one wasn't as good.

The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne

This book is about a man, who we meet at the beginning of his life, and then meet up with him at various stages of his life.  From his childhood in Ireland and then other places.  I don't want to give too much away.

I really liked this book, it is a "chewy book" meaning there is a lot of dialogue between the characters, difficult scenarios, misunderstandings abound, and tragedy.  It did take me about a fifth of the book to really like the main character and become invested in his story, but then I couldn't really put it down.    

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

Nico is an aspiring actor with the opportunity to appear on a reality show. But it's a couples show and he needs to bring his girlfriend, Lyla, who is not an actor, but a scientist who has no interest in being on TV.  But she agrees to do it to help Nico's career and they set off for a remote island in Indonesia to begin filming with the other couples.  Things do not go as planned and there is a whole new "reality' that the contestants need to deal with. 

I like a Ruth Ware book, she does a good job of teasing the story, but not giving too much away so readers are keen to keep turning the pages.  I enjoyed this book and found real depth to the characters and the plot. This would be a good book to adapt to a movie or mini-series, as I understand they are doing with another of Ware's books "The Woman in Cabin 10".

Friday Favourites

 

This is one of those weeks where Friday is a welcome sight!

On Monday we dropped into High Park to pick up the t-ball uniforms and equipment for Q's team (since Dave is the coach).  These helpful kids carried it back to the car.

Speaking of helpful kids, with Dave away, I asked for their help around the house for various things and they did a great job.  They emptied the dishwasher one morning before they went to school, picked up things around the house,  Q vacuumed the stairs, and E did some laundry.  I think I need to give them more chores to do, they have proven they are capable. 

Dave was in Florida for work, staying at the Hard Rock Hotel.  This building is quite impressive, and lights up at night.

Meanwhile our week was focused on hockey playoffs.  This was Tuesday's Leafs game. 

People often wear their Leafs jerseys to work on playoff game days, I don't have a jersey but I wore my Maple Leaf blue. I had a few minutes outside so I snapped this.

This is Thursday night's game.  I told the kids to pretend they were into the game (nothing was happening at this moment).

Let's go! (Good acting)

I watched this show this week.  I am not really familiar with this YouTube influencer culture.  I mean, I've heard of Mr. Beast (but only just in the last couple of months) and I know there are videos of kids unboxing toys, but I had no idea what people get up to with these channels, particularly kids and tweens.  I am so glad that my kids aren't really into that sort of thing.  

Happy Friday!

Linking up with Andrea and Erika

Monthly Musings

 

1. Do you celebrate Easter, Passover, or another holiday in spring?
We celebrate Easter - He is Risen!

2. Do you plant a garden? Any tips for those without a green thumb?

We plant some herbs in pots, and will buy a few potted geraniums but do not have an actual garden. I do not have a green thumb, so my tip is to keep it manageable with potted plants, and get a watering system to keep everything alive without having to think about it. 

3. How do you decorate for spring?

We put out some Easter decorations - a tree branch with wooden ornaments, painted eggs, other spring related touches. I always think about getting hydrangeas for the front step but the weather is usually still cool around Easter so I am hesitant to get something when there is still a possibility of frost. 

4. Desserts that just say spring to you?
Cherry pie, I did not make one for Easter this year, but I have the ingredients so I will do it soon.

5.  Favourite spring flowers?

Any sort of flowering tree - lilacs, magnolia, cherry blossoms. 

6. Best tips for hosting spring events?

Extend the invite - people are usually dying to get outside as soon as the weather starts warming up.  An impromptu hang on the front steps or back yard is my favouirte - throw some crackers on a plate, pour a drink, and it's a party, nothing fancy required.

7. Favourite beverages or cocktails that make you think of spring?

Warm weather means it's time for Aperol Spritz!

8. Vegetable garden, flower garden, both, neither?

Herb garden - basil, rosemary, chives, thyme, mint

9. Favourite Easter/Passover candy?

Mini Eggs and Ganong marshmallow chocolates (when you can find them in the store, it is a New Brunswick brand so not as common in Ontario).

10. Marshmallow Peeps? Gross or yes please?

They are not for me, but my kids got some for Easter.

Linking up with Patty and Holly.

Weekend Recap

Easter weekend is always a highlight of the year - long weekend, high religious significance, spring weather, and good food - check!

On Friday I went to church for our Good Friday service.

When I got home, E had left to go golfing so Q and I made rice krispie squares and some crafts my mom had sent.

I picked up E from golf and then we enjoyed our annual tradition of fish and chips for Good Friday.  We order them in advance from the golf club, they do a great job, and saves us having to wait in line somewhere.

We watched some Amazing Race and Great British Baking Show before getting to bed.

On Saturday morning I got up for a run, it was lovely weather for it. Dave went out to Home Depot for some lawn suppliers and then got to work spreading grass seed and manure in the backyard.

The local businesses were having an Easter egg hunt so we walked up to do that.  You had to mark off if the store had a bunny or egg statue, and then you also got a chocolate egg.  We also picked up some sandwiches and Booster Juice for lunch, and saw a few friends and neighbours.  And E got a haircut on the way home too.

Showing off the egg collection.

It was Q's first ball hockey game of the season and lucky him, he's on the Leafs again!  After the game, he and Dave threw around the baseball and we ran into a couple of other t-ball families. Can't wait for that season to start in the next couple of weeks.

Dave and I watched the F1 Quali when we got home, and the boys decorated the traditional Easter cake. 

And we finally got the rest of the decorations up. I brought this branch home from my run earlier in the day.

We enjoyed our Easter dinner on Saturday night - ribs, coleslaw, and roasted potatoes.  It was so good!

Easter morning - and the boys were excited to hunt for the eggs left by the Easter Bunny.

Just a couple of treats - Q also got a Mbappe kit (the French footballer, figured we needed it for our trip to Paris instead of Messi!).

And E got golf balls.

Some treats for mom and dad too.

We all went to church to celebrate that He is Risen, Risen Indeed!  And then went over to the golf club for brunch, it was lovely as always.

Donning his new kit.

After watching the F1 race, we dyed our eggs.

In honour of the Leafs first playoff game that night.

These are Q's eggs.

My eggs.

And E's.

Since we had eaten our Easter meal on Saturday and had enjoyed a big brunch, we were able to spend the end of the day outside.  We took our baseball stuff to the field by the river to do some practice.  This is also near where E has hidden a geocache so we checked on it.

We got home in time to get settled in for the Leafs Game 1.  I put together a little charcuterie. 

We were happy to see the Leafs win and were tired and ready for bed after that. 

I hope you enjoyed your long weekend as well.