Dragon

I made a thing!

One of my characters I doodle a lot. Pretty proud of this one =) 

Cheers!

Merry Christmas!

May you all feel love and joy in the company of family and friends today and always <3

Zoey

Today is Zoey's adoptaversary! We've had her for 4 years! I can't believe how fast the time has gone. This girl has given us such joy that I can't even begin to explain. 

On this day, four years ago, Corey and I adopted the cutest little black lab mix. I met Zoey at my job at the daycare. She was brought in by a client and Nicole and I ended up dogsitting her and taking her out for walks through the year. Eventually her owner came to me and asked if I wanted to adopt her as she had become too much for her.
We couldn't say no. Since that day, she has brought so much joy, happiness and laughter to our lives. There was difficulty at first; being left alone for any length of time caused her to howl and she was fearful of everything. Since then she's come a long way and we couldn't be happier. She never fails to make us smile with her goofy personality and habit of making odd noises when she's happy. She's my co-pilot, cuddle butt, and turdface, we wouldn't have it any other way!

So, happy adoptaversary, little Zozo! xoxoxo

Lost & Found

So, way back this summer I thought I lost the memory card with the pictures from our St Mark's Summit hike. I had posted the ones from our phones but we had some nice shots taken from my good DSLR. I still wish it hasn't been super smokey when we hiked but it was a nice view.

We got a hazy view of Howe Sound, Bowyer and Bowen  islands, which I think would have been incredible if it weren't for all the smoke. If you turned yourself around you could see 'The Lions' which are twin peeks on an adjacent mountain.

Little love for The Lions!

ʇnO ʇI ʞɔǝɥƆ

My blog got a little makeover. 

I felt like it needed a little refreshment after being the in the dark style for so long. It was comforting looking at my previous blog background but it seemed a little relaxed and sleepy. I took a picture of the view from Ford Mountain that we hiked earlier this year cause I love it so, and made it my header. Kinda a little in love with it. 

I haven't been doing a ton of posts lately. To play catch up would be crazy at this point. So to touch on what I've been up to in the last little while, here's the following.

Sunday Corey and I skyped with our friends from Wales. We send each other packages every year at Christmas and open them on Skype together. It was a lot of fun and the excitement is growing as we draw closer to when they come down to get married. They sent up Jaffa Cakes this year (I've been calling them Java cakes oops) for Corey and I to try. Needless to say between the two of us they disappeared pretty quickly. 

On Wednesday I got my hair cut. Like....actually cut. It's the shortest it's been in about, 8 years I think? The guy did a really good job, and while it pained my wallet to go to an actual salon, I'm super happy with what the stylist managed to do with my hair. It's been super easy to take care of and I'm not left with hair-do remorse. 

It snowed on Thursday! Mind you, it didn't stick but it was great fun watching it come down while I was at the daycare. I took a bunch of photos while it hung around which was nice. 

We had a work brunch on Saturday which was DELICIOUS. It was nice to sit all together and talk over great food. I had an amazing steak and the prawns were so tasty. Afterward, Nicole and I drove out to Chilliwack. It was a stunning drive and I wish i had my good camera as the mountain where so beautiful. I honestly don't remember them being that breathtaking before. After a funny little fiasco once in the 'Wack, we made it to our destination. 

I kept peeking in the rear view mirror to see those mountains as we headed back for home. Nicole showed me the backroad way back to the fort and it was beautiful. We even stopped to watch a doe in someone's yard. Beautiful creatures that always leave me thinking when you chance upon one. 

That night Corey and I went to a Christmas dinner party in Brookswood that turned out to be a blast. I spoke with  whole gaggle of girls and quite a few people drank.....a little too much. Corey included. 

Today's hangover cure was Ihop and a trip to MEC. I want everything in that store. Seeing all the backpacking gear nearly makes me salivate thinking about all the adventures that await us in 2016. 

Speaking of which, there are currently 11 days left of 2015, and only 5 more sleeps until CHRISTMAS. Woo!

GUYS

GUYS, GUYS!

check it out:

62 DAYS

till Hannah and Rhys come to visit!!

100 DAYS

till Nicole and I go to VEGAS

~518 DAYS

till Nicole and I go to LONDON

I will give a more comprehensive update when I'm not so busy but omfg.

Starry Eyed

It's really all starting to feel real! Butterfies in my stomach!

Nicole and I have the travel bug, and I think it’s a start to a beautiful thing! We’re going to Vegas in …good lord 4 months! We’ve also begun the pre-planning stages for an even bigger trip in 2017! Its all so exciting that I’m getting butterflies just thinking about it.

She sent me this cute link listing reasons why its awesome to travel with your BFF.  I had a good laugh over some of them because that will definitely be us!

1 You can finally fulfill the travel dreams you have shared for years.

Yes! This is so true. I have wanted to skip across the globe and take in all there is to see. We both have big dreams in regards to exploring this amazing world we live in and now we have a trustworthy companion that we know will make adventuring a blast!

2 Your BFF will have the patience to take a billion photos of you so you can have the perfect Instagram.

Heh, We take a lot of pictures just on hikes so I can just imagine using up a dozen memory cards on our future trips. Just wait for the silly selfies and awkward poses we will snap!

3 You will encourage each other to be braver.

We are going to be exploring different countries, so hell yes you think we will have to step up the bravery meter. Having confidence in the person you travel with is key to having a good trip in which you feel safe.

4 You won't be afraid to tell her that you need to stop and rest.

Hold the fuck up, I’m dying. Cramp!

……in all honesty it will probably be a break for food, which I totally don’t see Nicole minding ;) haha!

5 You won't get stressed about planning the trip.

That’s what I’ve noticed so far! We’re both so easy going and have a similar mindset in what we want to do and see. Here come the lists and being hunched over the computer screen, screeching about the things we might see!

6 You will get to know each other even better than you ever thought you could.

I don’t know how much more there is to know about each other haha! We’re pretty close.

7 You can pack less because you will just share everything.

More room if our luggage to fit touristy finds in!

8 You will want to do the same activities.

Yes! Our to-do lists are nearly identical in most cases and if we have a few things that are different you can bet the other is game to do it!

9 You can vacation at the pace you enjoy.

No rushing, no being dragged to do shit you don’t want do, no one raining on your parade when you find something that you enjoy. Ahhh can’t wait!

10 You know you will be safe because someone will always be looking out for you.

Knowing we have each other’s back is awesome. <3

11 You will want to splurge and save on the same things.

We’re already planning for this, where to pinch our pennies and where to treat ourselves. Its comforting knowing that I wont have to fork out life savings for every meal, event etc.  We know how to budget!

12 You will never worry about cell service because the only person you ever text is with you.

Haha…I guess we’ll call our boyfriends too! ;)

13 You won't be embarrassed to go do the goofy stuff together.

Hell no we wont be embarrassed. You should see some of the shit we get into…..or actually lets leave that alone. No dredging up embarrassing photos XD

14 When you start to drive each other crazy, you can just say it.

Back off, bitch! Just kidding pleasedontleave

15 You will create memories you can share for the rest of your lives.

And on to many more! <3<3

Best Morning Ever

When you start your lazy day to find your bff got totally legit non photoshopped pics of you and your man 😂

Why was this a good idea?

PSA: Eating half a pizza then getting your bf to teach you to do a hip toss probably wasn't the best idea. 😂

Disorderly Sleeping Arrangements

Currently dog/house sitting for my boss.

I am attempting to sleep in a king(?) size bed. Three dogs and one cat have decided to steal my blankets and lay on my side. Why! Look at all that room on the other side you dorks. The fourth dog is currently sleeping on the floor next to the bed while the other cat is in 'his room'. What a zoo! 

Homeland

I feel like words aren't enough to express my feeling while watching Homeland so here's some GIFs to help.

Any when a certain someone appears on screen: 

I hope this has been informative

On the season 3!

I Didn't Plan on Crying Today

I'm glad we all have each other to lean on. It's been a rough week for pretty much everyone. Then I had to go and read this poem while looking for a quote for a memorial notice.

 

Missing You

I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep.
I could see that you were crying. You found it hard to sleep.

I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear,
“It’s me, I haven’t left you, I’m well, I’m fine, I’m here.”

I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea,
You were thinking of the many times your hands reached down to me.

I was with you at the shops today. Your arms were getting sore.
I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more.

I was with you at my grave today, You tend it with such care.
I want to re-assure you, that I’m not lying there.

I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key.
I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said “It’s me.”

You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair.
I tried so hard to let you know, that I was standing there.

It’s possible for me to be so near you everyday.
To say to you with certainty, “I never went away.”

You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew…
in the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.

The day is over… I smile and watch you yawning
and say “Good-night, God bless, I’ll see you in the morning.”

And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,
I’ll rush across to greet you and we’ll stand, side by side.

I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.
Be patient, live your journey out… then come home to be with me.

– Colleen Fitzsimmons

Hahah

Lets hope not!

I Didn't Forget You

Oh dear. I haven't posted since May. I've been working on my new outdoor blog, Wanderlust BC , and haven't made a whole lot time to sit in front of the computer and type. The weather has just been so beautiful that spending time indoors makes me feel guilty.


This past weekend I went camping with a bunch of friends up near Chilliwack lake. There were no campsites on the lake itself available so Spencer found us a really cool site off the main road. It was well into the bush and someone had laid out bark mulch for tenting by a big stand of silver birch. It was really beautiful and gave us a good ratio of sun and shade plus a ring of trees were we set up three hammocks. We spent the day on the water, kayaking and swimming. It was really beautiful and the water was so clear and warm. The following day a few of us hiking up Lindeman while the others stayed down and fished. I even swam when we reached Lindeman lake! Holy crap it was cold but I did it. Zoey enjoyed the hike a ton and seemed really happy to go scampering over rocks and logs.
We were going to stay still Tuesday but by noon Monday we were all pretty tired and gross from the multiple layers of sunscreen, Off, sweat and dirt.  Corey and I stopped by a river to fish but from the bridge you could see five salmon so we didn't stay long.
Tuesday was supposed to be a day of catching up with family but my grandparents in Abby had to bail last minute and my other grandma was sick. So I spent much of the morning unpacking our camping gear and visiting my mom and had breakfast with friends before I headed off to Vancouver. My aunts birthday is this weekend but I will be in the middle of nowhere for a wedding so I thought it would be great to celebrate. Driving in Vancouver is one of my least favorite things to do. There's so many pedestrians and one way streets and people changing lanes without signaling. It didn't help that my GPS refused to co-operate but I finally made it to my aunts house to check on her cat before I walked down to English bay to read on the beach while I waited for her to get off work.
People watching in Vancouver is great. So many interesting (aka Weird!) things to see. The Pride Parade was last weekend so there were beautiful rainbows and all sorts of decorations especially on Davie street.
After I met up with my aunt we caught up and chatted about traveling. She's a wonder woman and has been all over the world. I strive to see half as much that she's seen! We walked downtown and got really yummy shawarma wraps. It was wonderful walking around all the cool restaurants at dinner time. Everything smelled so good!
I made it back home in one piece after taking a scenic and accidental detour through Stanley Park.

 

May Your Smile Never Leave

Tea, happy puppies, happy clients. Good food, long talks with friends.

Good Days

Lindeman & Where the Hell are We?

This past weekend was nothing short of amazing.

On Friday, my friend Clarissa and I got together with our pack of dogs (5 in all) and went to go discover a trail out in Abby. We found a nice little path along the dyke called McKay trail that ran along the dyke. We got turned around trying to find it but we got to drive past amazing properties that nestled right against Sumas mountain. Giant willows and cherry blossom trees and this huge lilac looking tree that shaded a bunch of horses. It was quite beautiful. We let the dogs go up and down the trail a bit before Clarissa realized that this wasn't the place she wanted to check out. Back to the car we went and drove everywhere looking for the "giant boulder" that her map told us to look out for. We resorted to google maps instead and after a laugh realizing that we passed the road we needed twice already we found out way towards our destination.
We got to the trail head (or should I say trail heads) and were adequately confused. There was a big map at the parking lot that listed a bunch of hilarous sounding trails (How does the Knob Gobbler sound?) but never listed where we were for sure. And none of the trails were marked at their beginning so it was hard to determine what one you were taking. We wandered around for a bit before we found a very quiet and varied level path that lead us around the leading edge of the mountain. It didn't have any views that the other trails listed but it was a lovely little hike. The dogs had an absolute blast and by the time we reached the end of the trail they all needed a good break and a snack (we did too!)
We went back the way we came and marveled at how much the trees around us changed from one side of the mountain to the other. The foliage was ever changing the more we walked and it was stunning.
We will all have to come back to this trail and do the longer hike (6 hours!) that leads to the mountain lake and viewpoint that looks over Abbotsford and Chilliwack.


I was so amped for Sunday that I could hardly get to sleep. I spent Saturday making energy bites and getting my gear ready in the evening. I've wanted to do this hike for ages
Nicole arrived and after packing Bandit in the car we went off to grab her dog Shadow, and then Kelsey. Off to Chilliwack we headed and ended up having to pull off to the side of the road and put Bandit up front with us because he wouldn't shut up. Whining the whole way there! Oh well, maybe he wanted to sing along with us haha.
We saw deer along the way (Thank you Nicole, for shouting DEER!) and finally found the parking lot. There were a few cars there already even though we got there fairly early.
As we unpack our gear and dogs there was a creepy dude by his truck that made a few comments on us girls doing the hike. We chatted back but made sure he knew that we were well equipped. He may have been a nice dude but he kind of gave us a creepy vibe.
We hiked down the lot to the trail markers. One way led to Flora Lake and the other pointed us to the 200m mark where the Lindeman trailhead started. We will probably try Flora Lake sometime in the near future!

The hike up to Lindeman was incredible! I loved every moment of it. Fresh mountain air and to be surrounded by huge cedars was exhilarating.  And this was no gravel path either. You had to climb over boulders, across fallen trees, snaking your way up super steep sections. It was awesome! There was even a log bridge that we had to cross as well to get over the creak. I was a little wary of that part with a crazy beagle pulling me but he did well! He actually did very well the whole trail. I only had to carry him over one section of boulders that was too far for him to jump safely.
While the trail itself was all kinds of beautiful, the lake was breathtaking. From crystal blue to emerald green, I've never seen anything like it in person. Mountains reached up above us and we could see a snow capped peak from along the trail. I couldn't take my eyes away and my smile was permanently plastered onto my face.
We continued along the lake to the far point. Cue more boulder climbing and hopping across great big slabs of rock. Everyone we met on the trail was so nice! How could you be cranky when you are surrounded with beauty like this?  I felt so accomplished, I think we all did.
There was a rock out from shore and I wanted to wade out to it to take a picture but it was a little deeper than expected and I wasn't prepared to hike the rest of the way sopping wet. Oh well, next time with shorts!
We stopped and fueled up, took a bunch of pictures and then made our way back down.
I am really surprised that Bandit didn't drag me face down the very steep sections. He was either very tired or was respectfully waiting for me to slowly make my way down. 
We reached the bottom and threw ourselves back into the car, tired, sweaty and feeling a little gross but amazing non the less.
We rewarded ourselves with sushi before parting ways.
I think our next trip will be up Elk Mountain and I CANT WAIT!!!!

 

 

Resfeber

Meraki (adj.)
Origin: Greek
To do something with soul, creativity, or love; putting a part of yourself into what you’re doing

 Fernweh (n.)
Origin: German
Crave for travel; “farsickness”; being homesick for a place you’ve never been

Let's go on an adventure

Break It Down!

I spent most of my afternoon dancing and cleaning. I think the girls and I need another night out.

xx

I picked up an old friend on Thursday. As I drove down I starting rethinking what I did. Was this weird? Is this the kind of thing people do when they have trouble letting go? Once I opened the box I realized I did a good thing. For some reason I had a sense of relief wash over me. I know I will never forget him.

Thank you, beast.

Summer Arrives in April

I originally intended to post this monday but never got around to pressing 'publish' sorry if the tenses are off!

Holy moly do I ever love this sunshine we've been having.

We have been graced with summer weather so far in April. It was freaking 26 degrees according to my car thermostat the other day! This weekend was amazing. Friday I was off early and went to go walk Stella. It was a little hot for her and she eventually laid down in the grass on the way home and I had to pull her to get moving again. It looks like she had a good time though!
Afterward I picked up Duke and my friend Clarissa with her two boarder collies, Dozer and Oli. We zipped off to white rock and let the dogs play on the beach. I love taking the dogs there and they have an absolute blast!
I brought the nice camera and snapped some fun shots. We walked up and down the beach for about two hours before we realized we got stuck on a sand bar. Oops. We had gum boots but the water was too high so we had to suck it up and walk across the shallowest parts, filling out boots and soaking us completely. We had a good laugh and a few others on the beach laughed at us as we took off our boots on the sand and dumped water out of them. Cue horrid farty noises when we put the boots back on. They sloshed and felt horrid after but all we could do was giggle like idiots at the obscene noises our footsteps made.
Unfortunately, my dog is a bit of a moron and drank sea water despite us offering the dogs fresh water. Well, that lead to something I've never witnessed before. As we reach the end of the beach, Clarissa and I look over at Zoey just as she's squatting and see a fire-hose blast coming out of her rear. Good god that was gross. She seemed fine afterward and we couldn't help but to laugh.

Saturday was another beautiful day and I was determined to spend as much of it as possible outside. I washed by car top to bottom and cleaned out all the nasty gunk from inside after the dogs had been in it covered in who knows what from the ocean the day before. I took Toby and Zoey to the dog park and saw tons of really cool looking dogs there.
I got to read my book out on the patio and just simply enjoy the sun. I hit the gym with Kat. We've been doing so well and try to go often. It's nice to have someone to go with too and just chat away while we work out. It seems to make it go by faster too!
After ward I drove to MEC to get my very first hiking backpack but I was a few minutes too late. They had already closed! Bah!


Sunday I met up early with Nicole and Kelsey and we drove out to Chilliwack to meet up with Nicole's friend Steve who led us to a trail called Teapot Hill that overlooks Cultus Lake. We've been super excited to start hiking and I was pumped and ready to go. After snapping the necessary photos at the trail head we started up a wide but gradual incline that seemed to go forever! It didn't seem like much when you looked at it but I thought my calves where going to fall off! I'm glad I got my new hiking shoes though. They were amazingly comfy and my feet didn't ache a bit.
The trail was awesome though, a good one for us to start out on. It was pretty and fairly quiet. I enjoy doing trails early in the morning when there aren't tons of people around.
We opted not to take the dogs on this one and I'm glad because for one stretch of the trail there was a very steep drop off into the forest and only a little goat path to walk along. Needless to say I was pressed up against the inside of the trail.
The first viewpoint was the best. It looked out over the lake and had a beautiful view of Cultus. There was also a really huge tree that had been felled by lightning there resting on the rocks with a sign that Kelsey read in a dramatic fashion for us. After that it was a short trip up to the summit which had unfortunately been fenced off so it wasn't really all too breath taking. They could have done a wood fence that would have done the trick but maintained the beauty of the area.
Coming back down was fun. We all froze when a huge branch fell down through the trees. Steve had warned us about a female black bear in the area so we all went into high alert.
Luckily the only other wild life we saw were wood peckers and squirrels.

After our hike the ladies and I went to Cora's for a well deserved breakfast! Nothing tastes better after a hike than food you don't have to make yourself! Plus my O

I spent the afternoon laying in the sun and then made it back to MEC to get my hiking backpack. Does my color choice surprise anyone? Hah! I can't wait to use it. I already have it filled with a first aide kit, bear deterrents, water and other gear. Let's get a move on!
Nicole and I have many more hikes in our future and we already have Lindeman lake planned for not this weekend but the next. It's something that I've always wanted to try, with the reward of a stunning blue glacier fed lake at the top. I can't wait! We also have Elk trail and possibly dog mountain on our to-do list and we'll be scrapbooking everything as we go along. Let's make some memories! <3

Cause I'm Happy!

This is how I'm feeling today. 

Warm days and adventures for days! <3

Let's go!

April 1

I haven't written a post in a looong time.
Update: Happy, healthy and pranked the hell out of my BF this morning. Hell yeah ;) Life is good.

Go-go-go

Holy Moly this weekend was a busy one! 

Both Thursday and Friday we got to witness more amazing sunrises. It was stunning.  The girls and I exchanged pictures as the colors grew across the sky. I even won something at Timmies after about what...17 losing cups? yay! After work a few of us waiting at Whitespot forever before finally getting a table to eat. Afterward the boys seemed to have a plan and we ended up at a gocart place in Langley. I didn't know we had gocarts here! We left laughing and smelling like gas but it was fun.

For being February, it was gloriously warm and sunny the last two days. Saturday I wore capris and a t-shirt most of the day. It was amazing. I took Zoey out for a long walk around the neighbourhood and checked out all the little parks before heading to the dog park where she failed to remember that she is, in fact, a dog. She turns into a sniffing machine there and doesn't bother with playing at all. 

I spent the rest of the day alternating between working on art and reading outside in the sunshine while Zozo kept me company. Later in the evening Zoey got another walk with Kat and I before we had dinner at together at her house with the guys.

Sunday morning Corey and I got up early and made banana waffles together and hung out with Zozo as the sun filtered through the blinds. It was gearing up to be another beautiful day. We piled in my car and went off to maple ridge to go test drive a jeep we had already checked out. We settled on it and will be picking it up tonight. Excited =)

We made it back home by noon and then headed out to Buntzen lake with Kat and Mike. We met up with Den and Spencer and they hiked for us for a few minutes before we carried on further up the trail. It was awesome. Beautiful but busy there. Zoey had a blast and we threw balls for her into the lake to swim for them and she made friends with another black lab. A very busy, but very lovely weekend!