Thoughts on a Wednesday night

I'm currently sitting here in my onesie eating a bag of single serve popcorn and drinking a Michelob and thought to myself "hey if you really wanna get back on the blogging bandwagon you should post something." I still generally feel like I don't have anything that interesting to say, but I assume (hope) that most people who blog feel the same way.

Since moving here I have told myself that I need to get involved with activities so I don't just teach and then come home and veg out all night. It is so tempting because I am generally exhausted from the day. But I know that forcing myself out is actually good for me and I really do enjoy it once I'm out.

I even signed up for curling. Which is probably the least athletic sport (if you're not doing it competitively) because you can drink while doing it, but it's SO fun. I may not be the best or be "hurrying hard" but I am having a damn good time.

I also do an adult stretch/contemporary dance class. I did dance classes when I lived in St. John's and really loved them so I figured it would be good to do at least one here! I'm all about meeting new people and this is a great way to do that. I also get in some of that pesky exercise I dread so much. Maybe not A LOT, but doesn't every little bit count? Isn't that what they tell us?

Probably my most favourite activity is trivia. I have been obsessed with trivia nights for the past few years and when all my trivia friends moved away I was forced to find new recruits (I did :)). Since moving here, I've roped quite a few people into playing. We never do well, but it's just a fun group thing to do on a wednesday night.

What do you do to keep yourself sane? It's definitely important to have something other than work in your life so I wanna know what you do! I'm always open to suggestions, you never know when you'll find something you're passionate about!

In New York

Since I went to New York in August of last year, I figured it was finally time to share some of my trip!

It was the first family trip we've been on in like, 10 years with all 5 of us together. I get along with my sisters for the most part but you're obviously going to butt heads once in a while. Overall, I had an amazing time and I am so grateful to my parents for making the trip happen. I don't know when or if we'll all be able to go on another family trip so it was a good one to bring us all back together!

My favourite parts were:
- The Rockefeller Centre
- Seeing Broadway musicals
- The food
- The shopping (obviously)
- The cheap american booze! Everything is so much more expensive in Canada.
- Seeing the New York Yankees playing the Blue Jays and supporting the Yankees just to annoy Spencer

I don't think anyone would ever have a hard time finding something they like in New York. I wish I had been there longer to truly see everything, but I'm glad I did most of the touristy stuff so when I go back next time there will be more things to try!

(thanks mom for the blurry photo)

I would go back in a heartbeat. Especially to see Hamilton. Have you ever been to New York? What would you recommend checking out? 

Hope this week is good to you all!

- Janet

A year and a bit later..

Oh hi blog world. It's been a while since I've been around these parts. Mostly due to school, some due to a rough patch of anxiety and insomnia. But really, I guess I just didn't really feel like I had much to post about. I don't think I really do now either but hey, let's see.

Things that have happened since I last posted:
- I graduated with my Bachelors of Education
- I got a permanent position before I had even finished
- Went to New York for the first time and loved it!
- Went to Québec City for a few days for the summer festival and still missed it as much as ever
- I have moved to Labrador (part of the reason I accepted the job was because I was moving here anyway)
- I live with my wonderful loving boyfriend and things are going pretty well. We still fight sometimes but I am doing my best to work through that stuff because we are so good together.

Anyway, yeah that's my little life update. My first year teaching has been quite the experience. I have had few challenges and issues, but I assume that's normal when you're first starting off in this career. I can't believe it's already March. Before I know it it'll be June and all the kids will be setting off on summer vacation and Spencer and I will be hitting the road for our trip.

This summer we are going Calgary, Banff, Victoria and Vancouver. I've never been to the west coast of Canada but I am super excited! I can't stop planning, which can be overwhelming sometimes but it brings back good memories of trip planning when I was on my exchange in France.

In case you're curious about labrador:

Alright I should go lesson plan. Hopefully see you sooner rather than later! Also please excuse the current template,  I'm trying to find a new one!

I don't DO winter

I don't ski.
I don't snowboard.
I don't go sledding.
I don't skate (outdoors anyway).

I think this probably makes me the worst Canadian ever but I really hate the cold. I hate getting wet and I hate those things combined which is the inevitable result if I participate in any of these types of activities.

When I was younger I LOVED to go sliding, but I have since grown to realize that winter and I are not meant to be. Not even close.

The first and last time I tried downhill skiing, I couldn't make it down the bunny hill without falling. My friend somehow coaxed me into going down one of the big hills. I have no idea why I agreed to this at all, I didn't even know how to get on the ski lift. So we get up to the top, and I fall out of the chair. I can't get up, my friend tries to help but I am way heavier than him so just take a minute to imagine how well that went over.

I eventually got up, started and fell again. And this kept happening and happening and happening and we weren't anywhere near the bottom. An instructor comes up behind us and offers help, I start going, can't stop and tumble over myself and just lay there, defeated. At this point they are in the process of CLOSING the hill and I am refusing to come down on skis. So my friend goes on and I stay with the instructor and eventually someone on a snow mobile comes down and offers me a ride to the bottom and I obviously took it.

On the bright side, I couldn't really be embarrassed because there was no one left in the closed park. So safe to say I will never set foot on a pair of skis again. I looked somewhat similar to Bridget Jones when she attempts it:

but with no smile because I was not laughing at this point. 

This terrible day was followed by a long nap and night full of beer to help soothe me.

So yeah, you could say I'm not the biggest fan of winter. I won't even attempt outdoor skating because if I can't hold on the sides I am doomed. Ain't gonna happen.

If you are a winter, kudos to you. I need to move to Florida.

hashtag humpday

I had a whole post written out and then somehow it got deleted.
So this is how I feel right now:

#WHY

Anyway, I'll just show you gifs I used and not write full sentences because I am #overit

Snow day feels:
#earnedit

How I felt today after going to the gym yesterday:

#inshape #health

Then tonight I went to a new restaurant in town, had two beers I have  #noregrets. I will #yolo all the time when it comes to food because I'm not a slave to the gym....evidently.

Hope your Wednesday was lovely!

Link up! 

First teacher snowday

So this morning I woke up around 6:20, not even on purpose, my body just woke up. I decided to check the ol twitter to see if the schools were closed, saw nothing, whimpered a bit then laid back down. 10 minutes late my co-op teacher texted me:

My first teacher snow day y'all!!! I mean that's not even remotely close to the reason I want to teach but hey, it's nice anyway. 

 This is the current view from my window:

It's looking a little windy out there.

My  main purpose of this post is to share some of my snow day thoughts with you. So let's get to it!

Janet's thoughts on a snow day:

I should be taking advantage of today and studying for that online course I'm doing! Or not. I deserve a day off, even though it's Tuesday and the weekend just ended. 

Today would be a good day to go to the gym. There would be no one there for sure! But that also requires getting off my ass and into gym clothes and outside and frankly, I'm not into it. 

At what time is it acceptable to have a drink on a snow day? Surely it's different from every other day of the week?

I could do online shopping, maybe buying new gym clothes will motivate me to work out. But I'll probably actually end up buying a new dress or a sweater if I'm being honest. 

I could make some really cool recipes on Pinterest. But there is also a reason that like, bread and peanut butter exist. 

Is it really wrong to assume that my dad is going to shovel 8 times today and I won't have to help? 

I am so hungry!!! Screw trying to be healthy, I need some pizza up in this joint ASAP. Regardless of the fact that I had it for supper last night. That does not matter.

I hope your Tuesday is going well wherever you are! At least tomorrow is hump day!

Monday again

I don't know why we haven't all collectively decided that the weekend should be 3 days and the work week start on Tuesdays. Everyone would be much happier. One extra day to get your happy juice on, aka wine.

Anyway my weekend was pretty fun, aside from the crappy weather we've been having cause you know, winter in Newfoundland. I did see lots of my pallies and ate lots of food so I would consider it a success.

Friday night I went over to my friends house for a bit to hang out with her and her little one. I didn't take any pics but the little baby is only a year old so just imagine the cuteness.

Saturday I was a better blogger and took pics. See? I am thinking of you.

I decided to be healthy Saturday and went to the gym and came home and made a smoothie and eggs for breakfast.

(please excuse the speck on the placemat. I think I really have an eye for photography...and cooking)

But my mind about what I wanted to eat was immediately changed when S texted me a picture of two things that he only likes because of me (you're welcome sir). And then all I was craving was Boursin cheese. 

My main food groups

Anyway later that night I went out to dinner then a couple of my friends came over and we drank and hung out and I forced them to do those origami frogs I mentioned on friday. Best. Friends. Ever.

Iceberg is the best NL beer in case you were wondering. But this glass had some good ol shock top in it.

#madskills

look I drink beer and take selfies....

Then we did head out for a bit but I was so damn exhausted by the time we got to the bar that I had one beer and got a cab and came home. Party animal central right here. 

Even after my quick exit I was still pretty hungover sunday morning so we went for lunch and then I came home and napped. I also did a bit of lesson planning last night but nothing too hardcore. All my body wanted was sleep, so that's what I did. 

After eating copious amount of tostitos that is.

Hope you had a lovely weekend!!!