Tag: my life

Finally, a Blog Post About The Simpsons (Seasons 1-8: Part 1)

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Anyone who knows me outside of this blog understands how deep my passion, love, dedication and obsession is for The Simpsons. You can seldom make it through a daily conversation with me that fails to allude to or include a Simpsons reference of sorts; more often than not I’m spewing a literal word for word quotation or interaction that fits in perfectly to whatever we might be talking about. Without diving into the many reasons why I adore The Simpsons, (and have for basically all my years on this planet), I decided to list 10 of my most favourite episodes from Seasons 1-8; this is the best way to break up so many great episodes within so many great seasons! Perhaps after reading this you can take the time to go back and rewatch some of these gems on Disney+, or you know, a DVD if you’re one of us hardcore fans that collects the seasons! Either way, I’ve listed a brief synopsis of the episode as well as a brief explanation as to why I adore it so much. Insert cough gag, put your butt there, and enjoy!

You Only Move Twice (Season 8, Episode 2)
When you love something so much, it’s really hard to choose 1 thing you love most. Honestly, I get asked this question a lot: What is your absolute favourite episode of The Simpsons? Without hesitation, I always answer with this episode.

Synopsis:
Homer is offered a job at Globex Corporation, which requires the Simpson family to move from Springfield to Cypress Creek. The family is reluctant to leave Springfield in the beginning, but soon realize Cypress Creek is much nicer than Springfield. Optimistic and excited, the Simpsons say, “So long, stinktown!” to Springfield, leaving it in their rearview mirror. Upon arriving in Cypress Creek, Homer is almost immediately greeted by his boss, Hank Scorpio (not to be called Mr. Scorpion) who seems perfect and Homer quickly falls in love with all the great things moving to Cypress Creek has offered. Alas, Homer is the only Simpson who truly loves Cypress Creek; Bart is being held back in school, Lisa is highly allergic to much of the natural surroundings in town, and Marge is bored out of her mind as the house automatically does all the housework for her. As the episode progresses, we learn that Scorpio is basically a supervillain as many hilarious and villainy-esque events occur. Ultimately, as you can suspect, the Simpsons move back to Springfield but Homer receives the Denver Broncos as a present from Scorpio as a thank you for his hard work.



Why I Love It:
Probably one of the most quotable episodes ever, You Only Move Twice, never fails to make me laugh out loud no matter how many times I watch it. I appreciate every little detail in this episode in making Mr. Scorpio a villain you love and one who makes you laugh. Mr. Scorpio is the best one time appearance character the show has ever had, and with such a great storyline you’re left wanting more Scorpio, yet you’re completely satisfied with knowing he’s continuing more villany work despite no more on-screen time. The episode also brought upon us great sub-storytelling with Bart at school and Lisa exploring the forest; how can we forget, “I come from Canada and they think I’m slow, eh.” or “I’m allergic to everything here! My nose is so stuffed up, I can’t even taste Mom’s delicious boiled celery.” All in all the episode is clever, probably the most clever in the whole series; it’s laugh-out-loud funny, while also touchingly sweet and memorable. Oh, and who could forget the “Scorpio” song? He’ll sting you with his dreams of power and wealth, beware of Scorpio!

Memorable Quotes:
“By the way Homer, what’s your least favourite country, Italy or France?”
“France.”
“Hehe-Hehe- Nobody ever says Italy”

“My ass is for sitting, not for kissing”

“You don’t like these shoes; then neither do I! *throws them away* Get the hell out of here! Homer, have you ever seen a man say goodbye to a shoe before?”
“Hehe, yeah. Once.”

$pringfield (Season 5, Episode 10)
Season 5 has a lot of gems, but this one stands out to me the most.

Synopsis:
Springfield legalizes gambling to boost the economy, and Mr. Burns opens a casino. Homer is employed at the casino as a Blackjack dealer, and Marge develops a gambling addiction after she finds a quarter on the floor of the casino and can’t find its rightful owner, plays it in the machine, and wins. Seeing the casino is all the rage with adults, Bart opens his own casino in the treehouse catered to kids. Soon, Marge is neglecting the family and spending all her time gambling; she forgets to help Lisa with her costume for the geography pageant. As the episode progresses, Mr. Burn’s becomes obsessive over germs and develops extreme paranoia. Ultimately deciding that he misses the power plant, Mr. Burns decides to return there, and after she is confronted by Homer, Marge recognizes her own gambling problem.

Why I Love It:
Apart from it’s quotability, this episode offers a different side of Homer we aren’t used to seeing. The way Homer balances work life and home life, once he realizes that Marge is dropping the ball, makes the episode all the more interesting; a role reversal of being the “responsible parent.” I appreciate the way Homer is trying so hard to be there for the family, yet find it entertaining to watch him try to master being a card dealer. Also, the way that Mr. Burns’ transforms throughout the episode is entertaining as well, and the cultural references to films like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Rain Man, and Dr. Strangelove are not lost on me. Lastly, all I ever wanted to be for Halloween after this episode aired was the state of Floreda.

Memorable Quotes:
“I’m not a state, I’m a MONSTER!”

“ARGH! YURGERDARADGIFEDERARA”
“Homer, what is it? Slow down!”
“JER GETTA FERTER RADA ARA”
“Think before you say each word.”
“You broke a promise to your child.”
“What?”
“You promised Lisa to help her with her costume. You made her cry. Then I cried. Then Maggie laughed. She’s such a little trooper.”

“Bart, I don’t want to alarm you, but there may be a Boogeyman or Boogeymen in the house.”

“No. Nevada makes my butt look big.”

Treehouse of Horror III (Season 4, Episode 5)
The Halloween episodes are iconic on their own, and many of these episodes (divided into 3 separate short stories) would make great stand-alone episodes if given the full 22 minute runtime. Growing up, I always looked forward to the newest Halloween special; even though I’m a scaredy cat, these episodes hold a special place in my Simpsons’ heart.

Synopsis:
The Simpsons are throwing a Halloween party for the kids of Springfield, and are trying to scare each other by taking turns telling spooky stories. The first, “Clown Without Pity” shows us that Homer forgets to buy Bart a birthday gift; he rushes out and ends up at The House of Evil where he purchases a (cursed) talking Krusty doll. Despite warning from the shopkeeper, Homer brings the doll home, and Bart is excited (yet does not know the doll is cursed). The Krusty doll ends up trying several times to kill Homer, who then buries the doll in a bottomless pit; Krusty escapes and attacks Homer in the kitchen. After calling the number on the box, it is revealed by repairman that the doll’s switch was turned to “evil.”

The second story, “King Homer” parodies the story of King Kong, where of course, Homer is the legendary ape. Marge, Mr. Burns and Mr. Smithers are on the hunt to find King Homer, but Marge is spotted by the natives living on the island and offered up to King Homer as a sacrifice. King Homer ends up falling in love with Marge, and Marge reciprocates, seeing the good in the ape. Mr. Burns is determined to capture King Homer and show him off in New York City; he is displayed on broadway until things go awry and King Homer attempts climbing the Empire State Building to escape. At the end of the episode, Marge and King Homer wed.

Lastly, “Dial Z for Zombies” starts off with Bart finding a book of spells and accidently bringing the dead back to life as he attempts to make Lisa feel better about losing Snowball I (their first cat). Zombies then terrorize Springfield, and while they break into the Simpson house, Homer sacrifices himself for the family, but the Zombies want nothing to do with Homer (brains! brains? no BRAINS!). Bart is able to lure the Zombies into Springfield Elementary where he casts another spell to banish them back to their graves.

Why I Love It:
Three very iconic Simpsons stories that leave you laughing until your belly hurts. When I think about Treehouse of Horror episodes, this one comes to mind almost instantly. As stand alone stories, these three are my favourite of all the Halloween episodes. As I mentioned above, I’m a scaredy cat, so I appreciate Halloween themed things that don’t make me lose any sleep. As I said with You Only Move Twice, I also believe that this episode is one of the most quotable episodes ever. The storytelling is clever and offers unexpected belly-laughs (cue Burns throwing the gas bomb).

Memorable Quotes:
“Take this object, but beware it carries a terrible curse…”
“Ohhhh, that’s bad.”
“But it comes with a free Frogurt!”
“That’s good.”
“The Frogurt is also cursed.”
“That’s bad.”
“But you get your choice of topping!”
“That’s good.”
“The toppings contain Potassium Benzoate.”
“….”
“That’s Bad.”
“Can I go now?”

“The doll’s trying to kill me and the toaster’s been laughing at me!”

“Alright, you big ape. Get a snootful of this gas bomb! *throws bomb at feet* “I was strolling through the Gas one day…”

“Dad, you killed the zombie Flanders!”
“He was a zombie?”

“Is this the end of Zombie Shakespeare?!”

Lisa on Ice (Season 6, Episode 8)
As a sister, so much of the dynamics of Bart and Lisa in this episode resonate with me and bring back the fondest (more hilarious) memories of my brothers and I growing up.

Synopsis:
Lisa learns in a school assembly that she is failing Phys Ed class and is encouraged to join a sports team to up her grade. After several failed attempts at a number of different sports, it’s looking hopeless for Lisa. The family goes to watch one of Bart’s ice hockey games, and after the game Bart is making fun of Lisa’s poor athletic abilities; he shoots a puck at her and to everyone’s surprise, Lisa is able to stop the pucks with ease. This catches the attention of Apu who coaches the opposing team and asks Lisa to be their new goalie. A sibling rivalry is born, and fueled by Homer encouraging the two to be competitive with one another. After a number of back and forth bouts, the last few seconds of the final game showcase Bart and Lisa remembering all the times they looked out for one another, and they share an embrace ending the game in a tie. The fans riot in dissatisfaction and trash the arena, but Marge is ever so proud of her kids.

Why I Love It:
This episode always makes me smile because I really can relate to Bart and Lisa being so close in age and having such a complex love and hate relationship with each other. Growing up with brothers, I often fought with them over trivial things, but we also bonded over many things. The sibling dynamic between Bart and Lisa is all too real in this episode and the fact that Marge and Homer have differing opinions about how the kids should be acting during this rivalry is all too familiar. While I never played hockey in a recreational league, many times was I playing against my brothers or with friends, and almost always put in net. I don’t think I was ever as good as Lisa, but I definitely screamed just like her everytime a puck came my way. Ultimately this episode stands out as one of my favourites simply because of its familiarity and hilarity. Don’t tell me you can watch the scene with Bart and Lisa kicking air and twirling arms around fighting each other without bursting into tears with laughter.

Memorable Quotes:
“Me Fail English? That’s unpossible!”

“Oh my God, Marge. A penalty shot with only four seconds left. It’s your child versus mine! The winner will be showered with praise; the loser will be taunted and booed until my throat is sore!”

“I asked for Ketchup! I’m eating salad here.”
“I won’t have any aggressive condiment passing in this house!”

“I don’t care who started it. I don’t ever want to see you two fighting like that ever again. We love you both: you’re not in competition with each other! Repeat: you are not in competition with each other!”
“Hey! Apu just called. This Friday, Lisa’s team is playing Bart’s team. You’re in direct competition. And don’t go easy on each other just because you’re brother and sister. I want to see you both fighting for your parents’ love! (Flicks light on and off.) Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!”

Homer at Bat (Season 3, Episode 16):
What could be better than Simpsons and Baseball?

Synopsis:
The Nuclear Power Plant workers sign up for the company softball team, despite the previous years lacking success. Despite the team’s record, Homer is excited as he crafts up his Wonder Bat made from a fallen tree branch that was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm. The team ends up having great success and makes it to the playoffs. Skeptical, but eager for a championship, Mr. Burns makes a bet with the rival team’s owner and to ensure a victory insists that Mr. Smithers rally together professional baseball players. Burns hires several MLB stars to play on the team, but must disguise them as everyday power plant employees. In addition, Burns hires a hypnotist to train the team, but soon enough all the major league players succumb to misfortunes that rule them unable to play in the final game; except for Darryl Strawberry. With the score tied and bases loaded, Burns actually puts Homer into the game who gets so distracted by Burns signals at bat, that he gets knocked out by the pitch. The team wins the game!

Why I Love It:
The idea of Homer making a homemade bat and it being the main reason the team has such success in the regular season resonates with so many of us who played sports or participated in any activity and had a lucky object or item that we believed brought us success; whether it was a lucky pair of underwear, having to wear a certain number, or pre-game rituals, I think we’ve all had a special thing that has made us feel more confident in our successes. If not, that’s cool too! Anyway, I simply enjoy the blending of major league players in with everyday Springfield folk and truly felt that each player brought something different to the team and episode. It was refreshing (and down right funny) to see how these stars would act in normal day to day activities and decisions; Jose Canseco saving the family (and the appliances) from a house fire for example. Not to sound like a broken record, but this episode is also filled with many quotes I found myself continuously repeating and fitting into everyday life, like when you’re friends’ sideburns are really distracting you from carrying out your everyday activities. Lastly, I question the character of anyone who doesn’t sing along when the “Talkin’ Softball” song comes on at the end of the episode.

Memorable Quotes:
“Mattingly, I thought I told you to TRIM those sideburns? GO HOME! You’re OFF the team, FOR GOOD!”

“I will give 100 percent.”
“That’s impossible. No one can give more than 100 percent. By definition that is the most anyone can give.”

“It’s like there’s a party in my mouth, and everyone’s invited!”

“Well, are you better than me?”
“Well, I’ve never met you, but… yes.”

Okay folks, that’s the part 1 of what is going to be many parts of my blog about The Simpsons. What do you think of the first 5 episodes I’ve picked so far? Do you think any of these are the “WORST.EPISODE.EVER.” or do you agree with my picks? Remember, these are just 5 of my most favourite episodes from Seasons 1-8; I am not only missing the latter 5, but there were several additional iconic episodes I left out. If anyone needs me I’ll be at Moe’s! Smell ya, later…

A 2010s Sendoff: Recapping the Last 10 Years (Part 4):

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2017
The beginning of 2017 started off in the most beautiful way; a dear friend of mine (whom I consider my un-biological little sister) was getting married! The whole day was lovely, and the spirit of joy, love and happiness kept us all warm throughout the -25 degree Celcius temperatures. I was honoured to be part of their special day and continue to have these people in my life! In January, I also started a second job, working as a mentor and tutor. I stepped out of my comfort zone this year and completed my first ever paint nite and got creative at Creative Cafe; before this time, I did not enjoy art and always felt I was very bad at it. This year, I also went ice skating for the first time in over 10 years for my brother’s birthday, and later would take up snowshoeing as well. It was shaping up to be a year of new adventures!

Early 2017 was also when I made the decision to quit my job. After more than 4 years, it was one of – if not the most- difficult decisions I have ever made for a number of reasons. For starters, I didn’t have a new full-time job lined up to replace it, so I felt a little unprepared and uneasy about not having the same income flow coming in. Additionally, I had invested so much time and energy into the company, it felt like a breakup. What was the most important note here was the overall feeling I had about work; I always pride myself on working hard and learning new skills etc., and while my career or job didn’t necessarily define me, it was crucial for me that it always be something I enjoyed and felt benefited me not just financially. My job was not only feeling stagnant, but I was also feeling run down and was dreading coming into work every day. I never had anything positive to say about my workday, and I was feeling incredibly stuck. I knew this wasn’t healthy and it wasn’t going to get any better, so I had to remove myself from the situation. I was sad, relieved, excited, nervous, and optimistic all at once. As soon as I spoke to my boss and explained everything about how I was feeling and why I was leaving, I felt an immense weight lifted off my shoulders, so while there was still a few unknowns about what was next for my career, I was surprisingly okay with letting things shape themselves out.

One of the big highlights of 2017 was celebrating 30th birthdays for some very important people; first up was an incredible weekend in Ottawa filled with wine tastings and hockey! Too many laughs, too many jokes, too much 80s music and too much wine! It was truly one of the most fun weekends ever, and I know that the birthday man enjoyed himself to the fullest. A few weeks later, I surprised my best friend with a trip to Las Vegas to watch the Backstreet Boys Larger Than Life concert. The timing was perfect not only for us to get a trip in as best friends, but with having such a great kick-off to new beginnings with work. While we were only in Vegas for a few days, we jampacked those days will lots of site seeing, selfies, walking the strip, lounging at the pool, and ending off with the phenomenal BSB concert. Celebrating her 29th birthday in Vegas was surely a top 5 moment for the decade!

Spring 2017 graced me with the opportunity to begin working with family, as I started my job as an Executive Assistant for my brother and sister-in-law’s real estate business. While I was no stranger to working with family, I was intrigued to learn more about the world of real estate and gain new skills while sharpening those I had been working on with each new job title. A year in the 2010s wouldn’t be the same without another concert thrown in the mix, a few more paint nites, boardgame nights, exploring provincial parks, cottage weekends, and road trips. This year, I celebrated my birthday with a few close friends in Niagara Falls where we did a day-long wine tour visiting five different wineries. With a load of great experiences encompassing the first half of the year, Summer 2017 was shaping up to be nothing short of amazing!

Summer brought about cherry-picking trips, WWE live events, high-tea afternoons, more birthday celebrations for friends and close family, engagements, my first ever Vegan Fest, the CNE, a few more Blue Jays games, and to no one’s surprise, a treetop trek or two! Additionally, I got to experience yet another incredible Coldplay concert in Toronto. It was this year that I was asked to be part of two incredible weddings for the upcoming year as a Matron of Honour and the Best Woman, but more on that in 2018s post!

My best friend and I also ventured off to Chicago this summer to watch the Blue Jays on the road and check out the city! We saw the “bean” while walking around downtown Chicago, rode the sky wheel, ate a lot of deep-dish pizza, sat on a boat tour, and learned so much about the city’s skyscrapers and architecture. Chicago was an amazing city that offered so many perfect little shops and delectable snacks, definitely, a highlight was the popcorn shop and the little cupcake storefront. I am so thankful for another amazing road trip with my bestie.

Autumn brought another successful Client Appreciation Party for the Lucia Faria Real Estate Team, another Jays game or two, and a lovely girl’s weekend away in Blue Mountain. Of course, we continued to celebrate Halloween with our annual bash, followed by a wine tasting night-in, and a few attempts at karaoke and rockband – I didn’t say they were successful ones, but they sure were a hell-of-a-lot-of fun! A few more birthday celebrations were thrown into the mix, including some kids, as well as more creative afternoons at the cafe, and yes, a lovely tea-time double date as the year came to a close. Oh, and yes, another Star Wars movie in December – Star Wars VII: The Last Jedi. We hosted a family Christmas as well as another wonderful Friendship Christmas and said goodbye to 2017 and hello 2018 at the 80s themed New Year’s Eve party! No further commentary necessary, 2017 was superb!

2018
Before I even dive into the goodness that was all of 2018, I just have to mention how overcome with gratitude and joy I am as I look back at all the marvellous and incredible experiences and events that have taken place this decade. So many times we often think about our life as being busy and chaotic, it can take a while before we see that in the midst of all that, there are so many phenomenal things happening. While I’ve been sitting here writing this 2010s sendoff I am truly blessed. I value all of my experiences throughout the years and appreciate how I have been able to keep balance in my life. I am thankful that those relationships I’ve worked so hard to maintain are still intact, and hope that those who have come into my life recently can be met with the same fate for the next decade and beyond. Now let’s jump right into 2018 because baby, it’s a thrill ride.

The earliest days of 2018 consisted of birthday celebrations for family members and friends alike, royal celebrations, and classy high tea afternoons. There were wedding plans in the works and without doubt, a permanent glow in our hearts for all the love and happy times ahead for the next twelve months.

This year, I got to experience what some may argue was more than 10 years in the making, and that was a friends’ group vacation. At the end of January, a group of 8 of us jetted off to Panama for a week of fun in the sun. Without a doubt, this trip was an iconic milestone not only for the decade but for our timeline of friendship. Most of us on the trip had been friends for more than 10 years already and had never experienced a shared moment like this before. The trip started out as a way for us to celebrate the soon to be bride and groom in lieu of bachelor and bachelorette parties but soon became so much more. Coordinating the schedules of 8 people can be difficult, but we made it work and were able to have arguably one of the best weeks ever in hot, beautiful, Panama. Apart from everyday pleasures like lounging poolside, we partook in tours of Panama City (old and new), got to see the Panama Canal, visited a natural waterfall, played far too much BINGO, and consumed copious amounts of delicious food and thirst-quenching beverages; jungle juice anyone?

After Panama, it was full-on wedding planning mode as I assisted the soon-to-be-married couples with tasks like dress and suit shopping, mailing out invitations, and other wedding details. In early 2018, a few friends were celebrating the milestone 30th birthday; from dance parties to medieval times, there was so much to celebrate! Spring meant it was time to practice that golf swing and discuss the upcoming nuptials over some tea or wine. There was also a surprise Mad Hatter Tea Party Bridal shower thrown into the mix!

Next to Panama, another milestone vacation happened in May as we piled into a Jeep Cherokee and began an epic road trip to Myrtle Beach. Like Panama, this trip was long overdue as the three of us had been friends since 2007 and our trio, forever coined as Hydra, had never experienced a getaway together. With 1/3 of Hydra marrying that fall, it was a celebration of many things, but most importantly, friendship. Through all the hills and valleys, BNL and Billy Joel’s greatest hits albums, and 80s music alike on repeat, we had a super fun journey that week. Apart from late afternoons at the beach, we played a round or two of golf (both actual and mini), took in a wine tour, visited the pier and sky wheel, and truly indulged in some phenomenal food. On a side note, we also partook in a heartbreaking playoff loss by the Toronto Raptors, but watching the game on Cinco de Mayo was memorable for sure. That trip created so many memories that we all will hold onto for years to come, most definitely!

Upon returning home from Myrtle, I kicked off Summer with another great concert as well as going to see the theatrical production of Chicago. In June, I turned 30 and since celebrating my birthday is always special to me, it was no surprise that a milestone like 30 would be any different. I was blessed with being able to throw a carnival themed party with all my friends and family present. Life’s a Circus was such a fitting theme for everything that happened to me in my 20s but in the best way. I’m always looking for fun, adventure, good eats and games, so I couldn’t have selected a better theme to sum up my life!

Before long, it was July and prior to the wedding of our Best Couple Friends Ever, there was another birthday or two to celebrate, as well as a baby shower for dear friends of ours who were expecting their first child later on in the year. As I’ve explained in other blog posts, this year was a very special one when it came to weddings. July was the first of three weddings to which I would have the honour in attending; two of which I was blessed to be part of the wedding party and partake in all the behind-the-scenes moments of love and joy as the couples became wed. Our friends Mark and Lyndsay were married on the 21st of July and my husband and I were the Best Man and Matron of Honour. The love we have for those two people cannot be put into words, and that was truly one of the best days of my life as we got to celebrate them in such a wonderful way. You could not ask for two better souls and humans to end up together, and for such an amazing tightly bonded group of friends to celebrate their love as a couple.

There was a two-week break before the next wedding, and it included another birthday celebration as well as a trip to Ottawa where we got to do an escape room in the Difenbunker Museum and visit some iconic landmarks within the city. On August 4th, we celebrated the wedding day of another one of my best friends, on what was another beautiful day and cherished moment. Again, it was a day filled with joy, love and happiness as my best friend wed his beautiful bride. Closing out the summer with a Blue Jays game and a girls’ day at the beach, as well as some family BBQs, it was time to prepare for the closing quarter of 2018.

In September, my husband and I became a 3x Aunt and Uncle as our nephew Oscar was born. With the last preparations for the Annual Client Appreciation Party completed for work, I was able to focus all of my attention on my upcoming Best Woman duties, as the last of the 2018 weddings would soon be taking place. It was time to revisit North Bay for what would be the best reason, as our friends were going to get married! If you’ve been following my blog, you know there was a special post dedicated to this wedding and the importance it held to me as a milestone mark in the friendship I have with the groom. Apart from North Bay being nostalgic for so many reasons, a new mark was about to be left on the city and in our hearts forever. There were so many iconic places to fit in our schedule with so little time, but we did what we could: a hike to the falls, a meal or two at Burger World, a campus tour, and one last Thursday evening at Cecil’s. With the last of the wedding details out of the way and the rehearsal dinner over, we spent late Friday night doing what we do best; sharing stories, hopes, laughs, filming vlogs that are way too long for anyone else’s interest, and celebrating the groom. The day of the wedding was a great one, with the highlight being the time we got to spend getting the groom ready and just being our trio in the simplest and best way possible; and the rest of the day was filled with just as many laughs and filled with just as much love!

With four very important people in my life now all married, how was the rest of 2018 going to shape up? Autumn traditions continued, like the Lucia Faria Team Client Appreciation Party, our Annual Halloween bash, and exploring more beautiful parks. There was also a bridal shower for a dear friend who would get married at the beginning of 2019, as well as more great birthdays for our nephews! We would once again host our family for Christmas, and continue the tradition of Friendship Christmas for the 4th year in a row. 2018 was filled with immense amounts of love, joy and celebrations. It was a year that planted deeper roots in existing relationships and deepened my understanding of my place in the hearts of those whom I care for deeply. With so many people in my life going through milestones of their own, 2018 was a year of profound growth and emotion. While it was surely one of the best years of the decade, 2018 was quite emotional for me, but in an overall positive way. I was truly invested in the happiness and love of others more so than ever before, and it was quite exhilarating.

2019
This is it! The last year of the decade. It’s funny how at the beginning of the year, I wasn’t at all emphasizing the fact that this would be the last year of an iconic decade. So much happened between 2010 to 2019 that it was baffling to think that if any year was going to truly send off the decade, that 2019 would be it. If writing this 2010s sendoff has shown me anything, its the truth in the notion that it is the little moments that make life amazing. My 2010s look so different in the eyes of others, and while I may have looked back on a year at its end and thought “damn, I’m glad that’s over” I can truly say that no year was simply 365 days of limbo before getting to a “better” path or part of my life. Each and every experience shaped me in a different way, and without sounding super cliche, they were all necessary and as unfortunate as some events may be, they were bound to happen eventually. Without further ado, let’s recap 2019.

In January, I got to celebrate the winter wedding of a long-time friend, and truly it was a beautiful day filled with excitement and joy. Weeks before her wedding, we attended a classy bachelorette party in her honour and also celebrated a few friends’ birthdays. After a busy 2018 year of weddings, it was still an honour to have a small part in her special day by reading at her mass. The whole day was loads of fun and a great celebration all around. A few days later, my bestie and I would be southbound once again for another incredible Disney World vacation! For the first time, we would be staying on Disney property at Coronado Springs. I won’t go into much detail about this trip because I actually blogged about each day in their own separate posts, so look for that on my homepage! To sum it up, it was magical and wonderful, despite the temperature dropping and me coming down with a brutal sinus infection by the end of the trip. Regardless, it was a great way to kick off 2019.

My husband and I took a couples spa day at Scandinavian Spa in Collingwood, and I enjoyed my first ever relaxation massage. There were more birthday celebrations, board game afternoons and evenings, as well as more creative afternoons at the cafe. 2019 was surely the year of golf, as I hit the links numerous times with my friend KJ, with a few pars here and there to celebrate! Avengers Assembled for the End Game, and some of us mourned the death of Thanos while others applauded. There were also some housewarming get-togethers as well as a girls’ day at the spa. My nephew had his First Communion and the Raptors were making history with a clinch of the East and were in the NBA finals. If it feels like I am lacking some details with some of these events it’s only because I have blogged a few of these moments in further details in previous entries, so look back if you’re interested…

To celebrate turning 31, I played laser tag with some friends and enjoyed a great meal, and I also went treetop trekking with my best friend and had dinner with my family! Days later, the Toronto Raptors would become NBA champions and I cried so much that day, you’d have thought that I was an NBA champion. Summer 2019 brought on more epic films, as Toy Story 4 hit theatres. I continued to work on my golf swing, with many awesome days out on the green and took time to slow down and enjoy the little things like beach days with friends. Summer also brought about another career change as I quit my tutoring and mentoring job and would soon get the opportunity to start a career with Georgian College. It wouldn’t really be summer without a road trip or two, as well as some exploring of our provincial parks. My best friend got her first apartment, and we were able to help her move in, and later celebrate with a little apartment warming party. The first half of the year brought upon a lot of greatness, yet with calmness because time didn’t feel like it was flying by and this was a nice feeling.

Autumn brought us another fantastic Client Appreciation Party for the Lucia Faria Real Estate Team, as well as a lovely ladies’ weekend at the spa in Collingwood. Our fifth Annual Halloween Party was a blast, as usual, and I got to visit North Bay again to take in some Grand Slam Curling with a good friend. The year was winding down, but there was still fun to be had. A few more birthday celebrations thrown into the mix, more board game nights, as well as revisiting some escape room adventures. In November, my husband and I were hit by a car one evening by someone who failed to come to a stop at the stop sign. While our car was written off, we walked away from the incident with minor injuries, but I would spend the remaining months of 2019 in physiotherapy with a hairline fracture in my tailbone and a torn muscle in my neck and shoulder area. All things considered, we were very lucky, but would begin shopping for a new vehicle once we felt up to it. In the meantime, I was really enjoying my time at Georgian and continued to split my days between the campus, the Lucia Faria Team, and my SweetLegs side business.

Here we are, at the end of 2019 and what a decade it has been. Our nephews turned 8 years old, Hobbes turned 4, and we bought a brand new vehicle. The last of the Star Wars movies came out this year, Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker, and I partook in a Dr. Seuss experience in the city. Another wonderful Friendship Christmas took place, and the last day of the decade is here! It’s fitting that I write the last few sentences of this blog as there are mere hours remaining of such an incredibly memorable decade. I’ve never been the type to make resolutions, but my wish for 2020 and the decade ahead is that it is full of lessons, experiences and adventures that are both new and old so that I can continue to value them and the people involved. As 2020 approaches, my husband and I celebrate not only 5 years married, but also 15 years of togetherness. Through all of these moments mentioned in this blog, I have been truly blessed to share them all with him and knowing that he will always be there alongside me. And lastly, thank you to everyone reading this blog, but also to all those who have been part of my life this decade, and beyond. My heart is full, as is my head with beautiful, wonderful, magical, inspiring, amazing memories, moments and milestones. See you on, the other side!

A 2010s Sendoff: Recapping the Last 10 Years (Part 3):

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2015
I’m biased when I say that this was the best year of the decade, but that’s truly how I feel. This year was jam-packed with fun, adventures, celebrations, love and pure epicness. 2015 began with a few more snowboarding sessions, gameboard days turning into nights, and many things wedding- like saying “yes to the dress” after only trying on a few! March Madness included celebrating group birthdays, finding bridesmaids’ dresses, catching a concert or two and some Raptors’ games (we even got to meet Damon Stoudamire). Time was flying by, but it’s no surprise with so many wonderful events happening, and the biggest party of the summer was going to go down in a few short months.

In Spring, there was an epic paintball adventure for a good friend’s bachelorette party, followed by a menu tasting for my wedding with family, a getaway to Port Carling to visit our best friends, more attempts at golf, another concert (or two), and suit shopping with the groomsmen for our wedding. It wouldn’t be the 2010s without a few more Blue Jays games, and wedding season was officially on with my cousin’s wedding in June. June also meant another wonderful birthday celebration, as well as my brother’s graduation, exploring new provincial parks, and a dress fitting or two.

One month to go before our wedding, July began with the most amazing bachelorette weekend ever; I truly could not have asked for or planned a weekend that was so much fun. I headed to Niagara Falls with some of my favourite gal pals for three days of laughs, love and adventure. My BFF and my MOH (Maid of Honour) planned a night of interactive party games, followed up a full day of an Amazing Race style scavenger hunt that had two teams racing all up, down and around Niagara Falls, and closing it out with a superb dinner and night of dancing! Anyone who knows me, knows that I am near impossible to surprise, and being such a planner, to have someone take over all control of planning my bachelorette party was difficult for me, but she truly hit a grand slam home-run with that weekend! Truly one of the best weekends of my life. Believe it or not, I was totally brought to tears that weekend, not only because I was given a special keepsake scrapbook with messages and photos from all my gal pals, but in all reality, growing up with so many guy friends, I never thought that I would have so many amazing ladies in my life to call my good friends and celebrate my bachelorette with me; oh and facetiming my cousin/bridesmaid in Newfoundland in the weekend also made me cry; another rare sight.

It was finally August which means we were days away from our wedding. Most of the days leading up to the wedding were pretty standard stuff: pick up the dress, pick up the suits, drop off the centerpieces to the flourist, get the rehearsal done, then contain your excitement for the biggest party of the summer! My husband and I are truly blessed because no two people could have felt more love on our wedding day than the two of us; its cliche but it’s true. Being together for almost 10 years by our wedding, everyone had built-up excitement and enthusiasm for our big day. With all the “you’re finally getting married” lines out of the way, our wedding was also a great opportunity for my family to get together and celebrate something wonderful; for the first time in years both my mom’s and dad’s sides of the family were under the same roof, laughing, smiling and catching up. Walking into the hall, you could feel all the joy, love, and positive emotions in the room, and it’s a feeling I will never forget. August 15th 2015 was a scorcher day, weather wise, so thank goodness for an indoor wedding venue and an open-bar! We celebrated our wedding day with about 175 friends and family, ate way too much delicious food, and drank all the thirst quenching beverages in sight! When the clock struck midnight we ate a little more and continued to dance the late night away. The next day, we travelled to Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls for a little post-wedding getaway with our wedding party; our best and closest friends supported us so much through our entire relationship and the wedding planning process we wanted to thank them but also celebrate an extra special way with them for getting us married. Incase you couldn’t tell, we’re big kids at heart so waterslides and hanging out playing games is an ideal weekend for us; we had an absolute blast!

In Fall 2015 there was no slowing down, as two of our dear friends would also be tying the knot; one in September and another in October. There was also another successful Client Appreciation Party thrown by my brother and sister-in-law for their real estate business clients; which started in 2013 and was growing in numbers each year. Round out October with another concert, and what would become an annual tradition Halloween bash at our house! November brought upon a new apartment warming party for our friends, and yes, another road trip to Ottawa where we’d discover a hidden gem winery and the epic Diefenbunker museum. We cannot forget those epic board game nights too.

Just when you thought 2015 couldn’t possibly fit any more epicness into it, Star Wars was back in theatres for the first time in 10 years! Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens was released and really, the force awoke in almost everyone; what an exciting time! We closed out the year with what would become another annual tradition: Friendship Christmas. With the decade half over, it was difficult to picture what other events might occur that would be as life changing as the last few years. 2015 was one of the happiest years of my life, so 2016 had some pretty big shoes to fill. It was unlikely that it would match that bar but it came pretty close.

2016
Most of 2016 started off with the same likeness as 2015; much snowboarding and game nights and new experiences like escape rooms! In February, Jeff and I would visit Ochi Rios, Jamaica for our honeymoon in what would be the most pampered and relaxing experience of my life; I am forever thankful for how astounding that vacation was! A honeymoon really is a once in a lifetime experience, and having a private pool, butler service and such amazing food and drink at our fingertips was overwhelming, but in a good way! In addition to relaxing poolside and at the beach, we were able to visit Dunns River for the day. Our honeymoon was wonderful because we got to spend time away from everyday life and we got to do it together; a nice reminder to slow down and take in the little moments. Taking our honeymoon 6 months after our actual wedding was also a great refresher of those exciting feels you get on your wedding day!

After our honeymoon, Jeff and I visited the humane society and picked out a new furry friend to bring home. Initially we were told this adorable little white and grey kitty was a girl, so we named her Zelda; my husband is a huge Legend of Zelda fan. A week later when we took Zelda to the vet, we found out that Zelda was actually a boy. For a day or two, The Cat Formally Known as Zelda had no new name, but eventually we decided on Hobbes; like the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. I was so overjoyed to have a cat back in my life, and to this day we love and adore Hobbes dearly.

Spring 2016 brought on live wrestling events, another concert or two, some treetop trekking, another Raptors playoff run, more exploring of our provincial parks, a friend’s baby shower, and an epic archery tag birthday party for yours truly! I was also asked to be a bridesmaid in my dear friends wedding, which was going to be in January 2017, so there were a handful of bridal preparations throughout this year that I was helping the bride-to-be get checked off her list. A few days after my birthday, my best friend and I took a road trip to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to catch the Blue Jays on the road, but also partake in some American history. I love road trips because they bring out some of the best conversations, carpool karaoke sessions, and just an overall grand adventure you’ll remember for a lifetime. Being history majors, we adored how rich in history Philadelphia was from the liberty bell, to Independence Hall, and the National Constitution Centre, and Eastern State Penitentiary, much fun was had! Yes, we climbed those famous Rocky-steps up the museum, and of course we indulged in some Philly Cheesesteak! The Jays games were blast; ballpark food is out of this world in the States, and we may have fallen in love with the Phillie Phanatic. If you’ve never been to Philadelphia, I highly recommend it!

Summer kicked off with my brother’s wedding, a cottage bachelorette weekend for my dear friend, more outdoor adventures at some provincial parks, continued treetop trekking adventures, friends’ having babies, another round of Rogers’ Cup tennis, and cottage weekends. For the first time in forever, we got to spend the long-weekend away at the cottage with friends, and oh what laughs were had! Truly a great little getaway with some really amazing people. A cousin’s wedding would close out the summer, as would some natural rock climbing adventures; note to anyone wanting to try this- it’s quite an experience but it definitely takes a toll on your body- especially if you do not exercise or climb regularly; worth a try though if you love outdoor adventures.

Before I go on any further about the wonderful things that continued to happen in 2016, I would like to take a moment and touch upon the other things going on in my life at this time. Having been at my job for about four years now, I had taken on much more responsibility with every passing school year and it was beginning to take its toll on me. Long work days followed by after hours phone calls from staff, coupled with continuous lack of staff to cover programs had me stretched out pretty thin attempting to do my job in addition to that of the front-line staff who were either ill, needed time off or were practically non-existent. I enjoy being challenged in the workplace and I face new responsibilities with a positive attitude, but day in and day out of the same constant problems with no support from head office to help our small team was equal parts physically and emotionally draining. While I adored my supervisors very much, we were all under a great deal of stress trying to juggle all the roles, paperwork, staff and parents that were knocking at our door each day. The circumstances of my career took a toll on me because I didn’t want to walk away from a challenge and I was learning so much valuable experience and skill set that could never be taught in a classroom. More importantly, I wasn’t sure where I would go next if I left the company; although I was a teacher by trade, I was certain that going back on the supply list or being in the classroom wasn’t exactly what I wanted. I took much of 2016 as a chance to think more clearly about what would be next for me as a career, but more on that later!

September 2016 was another magical time because I would return to Walt Disney World with my best friend and a good friend of ours from Nipissing who moved overseas would be joining us! We ventured to Epcot for the Food and Wine Festival, indulging in delicious food from all over the world throughout the World Showcase exhibit. We met a ton of characters in Magic Kingdom, took a Jungle Cruise, ate lunch with the friends from the Hundred Acre Woods, and visited Animal Kingdom for the first time! The highlight of our trip was Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, which was an after-dark event at Magic Kingdom where all guests could dress up and go trick-or-treating throughout the park, meet villains and ride some attractions! We dressed up as the Aliens from Toy Story; so many people loved our costumes, especially Buzz Lightyear. Such a magnificent vacation it was, especially because it would be the last time I would see my friend from overseas for a long time!

The closing months of 2016 included our second annual Halloween Party, a few more board game nights, escape rooms, and more frequent hockey games where my nephew was the star player! A wine and cheese night was thrown into the mix, as was a bridal shower/fiesta for the January bride-to-be, another road trip to Ottawa, and yes- another Star Wars story (Rogue One). Last but not least, a lovely Friendship Christmas was had, followed by a pajama party New Years Eve. 2016 had some big shoes to fill, and all things considered, it didn’t disappoint. The year continued to strengthen many bonds made years prior, while introducing some new people into my life as well. Friends of mine were starting or growing their families, and changes were brewing! With my dear friends wedding mere days away, I was excited for all that 2017 would bring even if it was a tad scary! Stay tuned…