2013 Wrap Up

HAPPY (extremely belated) NEW YEAR!!!!! 

I'm not exactly sure how to sum up the past year. 

But before I get started, just a heads up: things are about to get cheeeesayy!! I realize we are now over a month into 2014, and most people have already forgotten about their New Year resolutions by now, but I didn't feel right skipping it over. So, here goes. You have been warned! 

For me, 2013 ended on a high note. I wrote my December exams (wahooooo!!), celebrated Christmas in ugly sweater style with some wonderful people, hit up the slopes partied it up in Mont Tremblant, and spent the Christmas holidays in sunny Cuuuba with my family. 

"The Team" in our ugly sweaters

Mont Tremblant

Maple Treats!! num num num.

The closure of 2013 also marked a few other big changes in my life. I ended a toxic, unhappy relationship that had gone on far too long. I was with someone who I knew wasn't right for me, but for some reason I kept falling back in. There's a quote I've seen around the internet, that goes something like: We accept the love we think we deserve. In hindsight, whatta truth bomb!!! This brings me to resolution #1: if it doesn't feel right, I'm not gonna keep doing it. I'm either 100% into someone, or not at all. Cause I deserve it! [and you do too :) ]. At the same time I know that I can be hard on people sometimes, so this will be a delicate balancing act of being patient yet picky. Gonna nail it in 2014!!! 

In other news, I also found out that I will be going on a month long exchange to SWITZERLAND this summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya! The paperwork that ensued was overwhelming and at times I wondered if it would all be worth it, but now that everything is all submitted I could not be more excited for this adventure. Imma be chillin' on a mountain, eating fondue, with my new blonde-haired blue-eyed Swiss homies! Awwwww yea!! One requirement of this exchange is that I am able to communicate fluently with patients in French. This makes me mildly nervy!! I CAN speak French, I just get a lil shy when I'm not 100% confident at what I'm doing. Soooooooo here is my resolution #2: take a weekly French course this semester!! Even if I wasn't going to Switzerland, it's still a good idea to brush up on my frannnnçais. I've been to 4 classes so far. I think this is a resolution I'm going to keep! Oui oui! 

Raclette, another cheese based Swiss dish. 

Varadero, Cuba!

Havanaaaa!!!

Cuuuties ;) 

Shopping in Old Havana

My dream home!!!! How cute and girly is this place!!

In addition to the standard set of resolutions I set for myself every year (eat healthier, exercise more, mix in some studying... blah blah) there's a few other things I want to try to do more of in 2014. 

COOK MORE! Cause I luv doing it! But I've been having trouble making time for it lately. I spend wayyyy too much money buying pricey kale salads and organic soups. Gotta make this more of a priority!

GET CREATIVE! My mom said something to me the other day that made me think. We were talking about some of the photos I took during our Cuban vacay, when she said: You know, you're a lot more creative than you think you are. You see things other people don't see. Now I know she's my mom, and she's supposed to say things like that, but it was really nice!! I LOVE taking pictures. Time to step up my game! And not just photography. I love making things and being crafty! Ma gurl Hannah recently encouraged/hassled (hehe just kidding Hannah, mostly encouraged, and I'm thankful) me to submit some photos to an art show she's organizing at school. The theme was "connections in medicine", here's a sample of my piece! 

My final (and favourite!) resolution for 2014 is to do MORE ACTIVITIES!!!! 

MORE ADVENTURES!! More "firsts". Go places I've never been. Try new things just for fun. You know when your parents call you, and ask you what you've been up to lately? I want to have something neat to talk to them about! Something I'm excited and happy to be doing. Big or small. Like spending an afternoon skating on the Rideau Canal with my BFF :) 

Let's do this thang. 

Bring it on 2014! 

Plaid & Parliament

My bestie Heather (a.k.a French Fries - how this nickname came to be is a whooooooole other story) came to visit me in Ottawa. We planned this weekend MONTHS in advance. She's a busy bee law student, so we only get to see each other every few months or so. I always look forward to our visits!!! #food #wine #luxury #food #food. 

And now it's over. Wah. You know that feeling of sadness you get, right after you open your last present on Christmas morning? All that excitement and anticipation, and then BAM, it's all over. That's how I felt after she left!!! 

BUT, in the spirit of keeping things jolly, here's Heather casually modelling with the Canadian Parliament buildings in the background. Whatta babe show!  

As soon as she arrived, we headed downtown to check out Parliament and the Supreme Court of Canada. My strategy was to knock out those nerdy/Canadiana sight seeing things right off the bat! (To make room for more shopping and eating, obviously.)

Supreme Court of Canada

Parliament

Plaid/tartan is very in right now. AND I'M OBSESSED! I'm all about that lumberjack lyyyfe (my ideal man is one who could chop down a tree, preferably with his bare hands, then carry me on his back up a mountain).  

My first purchase in plaid was this infinity scarf from Etsy. Check it! 

Flannel = god's blanket. It's like wearing cozy bed sheets around my face. Comfy. And plaid goes with everything! I especially like it with my camel wool coat from Aritzia. 

Since then, I've snagged a couple other plaid pieces to add to my wardrobe. (I am super on board with this trend!!) 

Like this skirt from Zara:

And this boyfriend flannel shirt from the Gap: 

Now I just need some plaid pants... maybe a coat... a plaid blazer... and I'm all set!  

Ps: it was -20C when I shot these. SO COLD. The things I do for a good old glamour shot. Haha. 

Heather and I spent the rest of the weekend exploring Ottawa, trying new restaurants and eating ourselves silly. Num num num. Gotta put on that winter warmth!!  

Afternoon Tea at Chateau Laurier

I am obsessed with all things British. 
If it didn't rain so much, I'd move there.

For example, a few of my favourite British things are: 
-Kate Middleton (my homegurl), and the Royal Family. 
-Tweed jackets. So rugged yet sophisticated! 
-Double decker buses (TWO levels to sit on?!!) 
-Pubs (self explanatory)
-Pimms (also self explanatory)
-The Spice Girls (girl power!) 
-Wellies (or just English country life in general)
-and TEA!!!!. Specifically, afternoon tea. 

Afternoon tea is not just drinking tea, in the afternoon. Traditionally, afternoon tea is a light meal eaten between 4-6pm. It originated amongst the wealthy in England, as something to tide them over until dinner time. From there, it has spiralled into a decadent and luxurious affair. Usually served on a tiered stand, you can expect scones (with clotted cream and jam), sandwiches, and a variety of cakes/baked goods for dessert. Oh, and they'll give you some tea, too. 

I was born to do this shiet. 

Ever since I discovered that the Fairmont Chateau Laurier (a beautiful historic castle-like hotel, in the heart of Ottawa) did an afternoon tea service, I've been DYINGGGG to go. Finally, I just made the reservation (ps - you need to make a reservation), rallied up my girlies, and did the damn thang. Weeeeeeeee!!!! 

The tea service is held in Zoe's lounge, named after Sir Wilfred's beloved wife, Zoe Laurier. The decor in both the hotel and the lounge is beautiful. 

There are two tea services to choose from: a Traditional Tea, and a slightly more expensive Canadian Tea (there's also a Little Prince and Princess tea for kids, too cute!). We all decided on the Canadian Tea. Yolo. 

To start, we were brought ice wine marinated strawberries. 

And, tea. I had Darjeeling for the first time! (The name intrigued me. Darjeeling, it just sounds so exotic. Like something a celebrity would name their child.)

The tea cart!

Then, our tiered stands arrived. 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've had afternoon tea once before: they brought one tiered stand for the table, and just kept replacing the sandwiches and scones as they disappeared into our bellies. This time however, we each got our own!!! And I was ok with that. 

The scones were phenomenal!!!!!!!!! I seriously luv clotted cream. Could eat dat stuff all day. 

And the service was great. A friendly gentleman with glasses. I wish I remembered his name. Well done, sir! 

Be warned: the Canadian Tea is A LOT of food. I felt like I needed to be rolled out of that place afterwards. Whatever. 

The sandwiches and desserts were good! Somewhere around average.  Not like it really mattered. Afternoon tea is all about the experience. A fancy afternoon of lady bonding with my fancy lady friends. In a castle! (kind of). 

Afternoon tea would make a great gift for mom on Mother's Day! Also a good idea for entertaining if you have a friend visiting from out of town. The Chateau Laurier is a historic and beautiful part of Ottawa. Take some time afterwards to wander the hotel's corridors and ballroom. And make sure to stop at the loo on your way out ;) (... but seriously, it's nice in there!!)