Contentious bread

When people talk about living with a significant other, they'll usually get to a phrase similar to "pick your battles" and grocery shopping seems to be full of them. But Jon went into the bread isle like a ring at the UFC. He was bound and determined we'd get the healthiest bread there, and he was not willing to compromise. 

He's so funny when he dives into all the logic, and I make my decisions based on feelings. We made compromises in other isles to compensate. I will say after a while it starts to taste less like they were making bread all day, and then just swept the factory and dumped it in to make ours. 

Eventually you don't even notice its just healthy stuff bonded together to fit in the toaster! 

The footrest that *almost* left

So my male roommate (ok - boyfriend Jon) had this old computer tower under his desk. When I finally asked him what the deal was, he admitted  it just made a really great foot rest. I’m serious, I can’t make this shit up. 

So weeks later I finally convinced him to junker the old thing, and we loaded it into my car. (To take to recycling of course!) Coincidently enough, that weekend I had all day trainings online, and guess what? I was uncomfortable without that stupid tower. I drove around with it for a couple more days before I could bring myself to admit to Jon I missed it being upstairs. 

We joked that the tower somehow earned the immunity totem from Survivor, and the smile on his face when he carried it back up to out apartment, I tell ya! 

Jerk off my horn

One of my favourite things to do (when it was allowed) is play Dodgeball. Seen the movie with the same name? It’s shockingly accurate. I usually play in a beer league (there’s now 5 in the BC Lower Mainland) mostly full of the “athletic types” you remember from high school. At one point I started my own team called “Amazeballs” with the t-shirts having a unicorn drinking wine on them. To fit the theme, I’d wear a unicorn headband to most nights. 

One such night, a friend of mine came up, and started jerking off my horn. I turned to her and said, “You’re actually the second person to jerk off my horn tonight..!” At which point some guy standing near us, who I’d never met, burst out laughing. I said, “Well that’s a heck of a first impression, Hi - I’m Jenn... and you know what? I’m not even going to correct that, it’s actually pretty accurate...” 

I got grief in the bag

Sometimes the strangest things remind me of my late father, and this weekend was no different. Jon and I finally decided to upgrade our THREE FLAME duvet for something we could actually sleep under. 

When we finally got around to switching them out, I mentioned we should put the old one in the bag it came in and he said, “not a single chance that’s going to fit!” 

And it reminded me of one time when I was still in high school, I said the same thing to dad about the tent fitting back into its original bag, and he saw it as a teaching moment. He was spouting life advice while he was sweating, grunting tying to fit the tent back in the bag. “When people tell you something can’t be done, that when you have to prove to me wrong...” All of sudden how stubborn I can be makes sense eh? So when he finished I held up the tent poles and said, “Yea - what about these then dad?” He says, “and sometimes you have to admit defeat, and not take on battles you know you can’t win” 

Well spoiler alert, Jon would have lost this bet..

Meandering Markham

After reading an email wrong, and showing up to work for a 6am shift I didn't have, I was thrilled to be able to do brunch with my two sisters in the morning on Sunday. Our original plan was to do a hike in the early afternoon, but we didn't manage to get on the road until almost 3pm. (Someone decided they needed a nap, I won't mention names) 

So we headed for Golden Ears Provincial Park, in two cars to accommodate all the dogs and people. Even the drive into the park was beautiful, with tall green trees towering on either side of the road. 

We knew were were going to be rushed to get to the lake, and back before sunset, but we didn't want to miss the opportunity to go all together. The parking lot was packed when we got there, but most people on the trail were heading in the opposite direction to us. 

Above all, that made the trail super peaceful. The trees broke away to give us a sneak peek of the river that ran beside us to the lake, and beautiful view ahead. It was hard not to run down to the riverbank at every opportunity, as all the gaps in the trees offered their own unique perspective on the scenery. 

The trail has some out houses at the beginning and just before the lake, which was helpful. But when we walked out on that beach, it took my breath away. It was dusk, and the water was so calm it was like glass. The river that fed into the lake was a beautiful emerald green colour, and save a couple groups, we had the place to ourselves. 

The beach was mostly rocky, save a sandy part that jutted out farther into the middle of the lake. It was begging for a yoga pose shot in my sisters words. How could I disappoint her? 

The dogs had so much fun running and playing around, but the water was even too cold for them, being glacier fed. 

We frolicked as long as we could, but we knew we had to beat the clock to get back before it was too dark to navigate the trail, and the gate at the entrance to the park was due to close. The hike itself was mostly flat and obstacle free, more like a sunday stroll, and just my style. I'd do this one again in a heartbeat! 

Hair Masked

My sister Aleisha sells Monat, and as the supportive sibling I am, I bought some. Well then I fell in love with my hair again. I get excited about styling it! When I found out they had hair masks, I was excited to try them, as I do love a good face mask.

I chose this one, and I can't say enough good things about it. I'm a pretty impatient person, so hanging out in the shower for the suggested time almost had me going bonkers. But then I realized how little time I dedicate to myself in a day, and self care. And then I felt my hair 

Softness like this didn't used to exist in my world, I can't stop playing with it! It just feels so healthy! I feel like a chick from a shampoo commercial. Love love love it. 

Friendly moms

On Mother's Day today, I wanted to write about something unexpectedly beautiful that's happened in my life in the last few years. Growing up, I loved all my friends moms. My mom worked long hours so I clung to the ones who could make it for school trips, who baked, who drove us around to the malls. 

I always imagined becoming a mom one day, even when I graduated at 18, I wanted to start having a family no later than 26. That was the plan! But my life has taken its own path, and I'm honoring the journey. Jon and I do talk about building a family one day, and having Winnie, I've seen how much his heart can grow. But something beautifully magical has happened in the meantime. 

I feel so blessed to have the amazing friends that I do, and some of them in the last few years have become mothers. I've seen them grow, struggle, and thrive. I've been there for the good, happy times, and I've listened when they told me how hard it is. I've grown to respect them even more, as they've found meaning and purpose in motherhood. 

And something else happened, I fell in love with their kids. This little mini humans are extensions of the beautiful people I'm so lucky to call my friends. They're respectful, they have manners, they're going to grow up to change the world, and I get to be there to watch them. I have lots of women in my life I'm thankful for today, who've helped me in a motherly way, and I'm forever grateful. One day, I look forward to growing my own gremlin, but until then, I'm very much enjoying my friends becoming moms. 

On a side note: I've noticed mothers give the BEST hugs. I challenge you to find out for yourself and hug as many moms as you can today.