Canada Day 2017

On July 1, we celebrated Canada Day and 150 years of Confederation. There were all kinds of celebrations to make this milestone, and I spent Canada Day in my hometown- something I haven't done in years! I am a little late in sharing how I celebrated the day, but better late than never!!

It was a jammed pack day with a ton of things going on!! I spent the day with my family, and we started at about 9am where my dad unveiled a clock and encapsulated a time capsule. 

 

Next we were off to a local park, which was where our City's celebration were taking place. The festivities were officially kick-off and included an appearance by our Town Crier! 

A portion of the street was shut down and filled with food vendors. The park hosted a variety of activities- face painting, arts and crafts, games such as bubble soccer, inflatables, and even activites out on the water.

And of course there was live entertainment- musicians, magicians, singers, and dancers. 

We took a break in out day to head down to the Flatwater Centre and take in some of the races for the Dominion Day Regatta. 

What is a Canada Day celebration without fireworks?! We finished the day on the bridge watching fireworks over the water. It was a spectacular show and a fantastic day!

Book Club: The Handmaid's Tale

Image via Chapters Indigo

Book: The Handmaid's Tale

Author: Margaret Atwood

Indigo Summary:

Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the days before, when she lived and made love with her husband Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now.... Funny, unexpected, horrifying, and altogether convincing, The Handmaid's Tale is at once scathing satire, dire warning, and literary tour de force.

What I Have To Say:

This was the June pick for my book club, and I wasn't excited about it. I had read this book in high school, and I wasn't a fan. Re-reading it without any assignments to do, did make the book more enjoyable. This book is set in the future, but eerily echos what is happening in the US at the moment, and makes you wonder how far off the US is from a society that is similar to the Republic of Gilead. Margaret Atwood, a Canadian Treasure, is a wonderful author and this book is very well written. The plot makes you think, the characters are interesting, and the story flows well.

Final Verdict:

Everyone seems to love this book, but I'm not a fan. I would still recommend this book- it is an engaging and thought-provoking read. I can see why others like it, but I won't be re-reading it. 

Hey, It's Ok

With Amber from Airing My Dirty Laundry

To like this season's cast of Big Brother- except for Paul...it would have been better if they hadn't brought him back. First time in a long time that the BB cast hasn't been super annoying. Also love that Big Brother Canada will be coming back for season 6 (previously announced that wouldn't be)!!!

That summer is going too quickly and I feel like I haven't done anything- even though I have done more already this summer than I did all last summer. 

To recently been getting into youtube channels! I know I am late to the game, but I have recently started following youtubers- The Journey Girl, Erin Scott, Zoella, Safiya Nygaard. I've been spending more time watching youtube and less time watching Netflix. 

That Royal Wood and David Myles- two of my favourite musicians- are both touring in the fall!! Haven't seen either of them in awhile, so I'm really looking forward to it!!

To see people I've known for awhile, how have worked so hard to go after their dreams, pushed through set backs and roadblocks, finally achieve their goals, dreams, and successes.

Inspire Me: Halfway

Happy Monday!! I have taken a few weeks off from blogging; dealing with some stuff, recovering from illness, and just enjoying summer- it was a busy month!! This week is going to be a busy one- I have some fun social things going on, and some big work deadlines- hoping that reminding myself of this quote will get me through the week!

 

Spring Vibes: New Discoveries & An Old Favourite

I love being introduced to new products and new brands. Thanks to Influenster, I have spent the past several weeks testing out a number of products from their Spring Vibes Vox Box. Some brands were new to me, some brands I had heard of but the product was new to me, and one product/brand I have been a fan of for a while. There was variety, which I loved!

Curious to know what was in the box?

  

NesCafe Sweet & Creamy- I loved the individual coffee sachets, which are perfect for home, work, or on the go. Super easy to use, makes a nice cup of coffee, and can be used hot or iced. I am keeping a couple of these in my desk, in case I need an 'emergency' mid-afternoon coffee.

Nivea Q10 Firming Body Oil- I didn't really notice a difference in the firmness of my skin, but I have only been using it for a couple of weeks. I'm hoping the more I use it, the more of a difference I will notice. I do want to mention that this oil was great for my overly dry skin, which I really appreciate!!

imPRESS Press On Manicure- This is actually a product that I have been using for a couple of years- I am such a huge fan!! There were enough nails for both me and my sister, plus extras. These are so easy to apply- peel and stick- and they stay on for a few days. I love how natural they look, and my sister and I both got TONS of compliments!

Ebates Popsocket- The popsocket helps you get a better grip on your phone, or acts as a stand for watching videos on your phone. I'm so surprised that more people don't know about Ebates! YOU GET PAID TO SHOP!!! Ebates has partnered with a number of retailers- including Hudson's Bay and Sephora. You can access the online stores of partner retailers from Ebates and they will give you cash back for shopping. 

Annie's Shells & White Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese- To say this was delicious is an understatement! Made with real white cheddar- none of that fake powder stuff- and organic shells, this is a health take on traditional comfort food.

Arm & Hammer Plus OxiClean 3-in-1 Power Paks- First of all, I am fan of 'power pak' type products, as they do the pre-measuring for you. Arm & Hammer not only gets out stains, but smells great too.

Quaker Harvest Fruit & Nut Granola Bar- About a month ago, a friend and I decided to use our Parks Canada Pass to spend the afternoon at Point Pelee- the Southern most part of mainland Canada- and packed these granola bars for a snack. Another delicious product! They were the perfect in between meals item...just enough to tied you over and feel satisfied without making you feel full and sluggish. I love that these are a health alternative to other granola bars, but still taste delicious!

***DISCLAIMER: I received this product complimentary from Influenster for review purposes. All content and opinion are my own. For my full Disclaimer Policy, please see my About page.***

Inspire Me: Awesome & Jealous

I always try to make today a great day, to focus on the positive, enjoy the happy, and laugh as much as possible. It will be a challenge to do that today, but I am going to keep this in mind and do my best: