Beach yoga

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Sherry

Much to my shock, what with being a Canadian who is very used to Canadian-esque weather, Thanksgiving weekend was ridiculously beautiful and warm. Despite the fact that it’s fall and we’ve had some pretty chilly days and cold nights, the entire weekend was above 20C which is all but unheard of.

Taking full advantage, on Saturday we went to check out an old fort called York Redoubt. It was really nice and I’d like to go back when we have more time to do the hike down through the woods to the water. On Sunday it was so hot we ended up at the beach. Because it was Thanksgiving weekend it wasn’t too packed either. We were silly enough to tell the kids they weren’t going swimming so naturally they waded in right in their clothes and soaked themselves up to their waist. Naturally! Then on Sunday we went to have a delicious Thanksgiving dinner with friends and family and all the kids played outside most of the day.

I haven’t had a chance to dump any pictures off my camera yet but I did shoot some video of some beach yoga and was able to edit one. It was the first time that I did a voice-over narration and I still strongly dislike listening to my own voice on a recording, but overall I’m pleased with it.

I had originally wanted the ocean in the background but there were too many people in the shot and the camera would have been aimed at the sun which doesn’t create very good lighting. In the end I really like the beach grass behind me and the lighting was much better.

Hopefully I can post an update with some of the pictures from the weekend soon!

The Atlantic Film Festival in Halifax Nova Scotia

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Sherry

Exciting for both tourists and locals are the great events that are held in Halifax throughout the year. One such event that is especially popular is the Atlantic Film Festival. Held over 10 days, the event recognises films from local provinces, as well as from all over the world.

This is considered to be one of the top four film festivals that are held in Canada and it is a great event to attend. If it gets to the time when this festival will be held, those involved bustle around to make sure everything is ready. All the while attendees amuse themselves by going shopping or playing Foxy Bingo, while eagerly awaiting the opening day.

The series of outdoor screenings, alFresco filmFesto, was started in 2001 and has quickly grown into a hotly-anticipated event. Held in the summer on the Halifax waterfront, hundreds of movie fans flock to each screening and it is always a resounding success.

A year after the launch of alFresco filmFesto, ViewFinders: International Film Festival for Youth was started. It is geared towards children of school age, their families and teachers. Held during April and lasting for five days, the festival consists of screenings, panels, workshops and even a ViewFinders Movie Challenge.

The role that the Atlantic Film Festival plays in the world of film and television in Atlantic Canada is a significant one. The wide range of master-classes, panels and workshops help to raise people’s awareness of the way the industry is developing, and allow them to practice and learn the skills that are essential to making it in the film industry today.

Furthermore, the Inspired Script program allows people to pitch their scripts to potential buyers and others can dissect documentaries in order to learn how to make the best of their ideas. The Atlantic Film Festival’s Industry Session will help attendees to develop their skills further, meet people and make valuable connections.

The very first day

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Sherry

Today was a big day in our household since it was the first day of school. It meant the first day in a new school for Hayley and the first day ever for Breanna.

(Hayley’s bag is on the left with a keychain she got at the end of last year from Breakfast Club and Breanna’s is the one with Super Mario on it.)

I was so incredibly happy that I got to come into work an hour (or so) later just so I wouldn’t have to rush off and miss the first day. We got to take them right to the school and go in with them. I think that helped with the nerves a little bit – theirs AND ours!

The kids each picked out their own outfits when we went shopping. Hayley’s choice:

Breanna’s sparkly choice:

Outside, ready to go with a combination of excitement and apprehension:

Since each of the kids needed to be in different areas of the building George and I split up; he took Hayley with him and I took Breanna. As a result I don’t have many pictures of Hayley but I think George might have taken a few extras on his phone so I’ll have to get those.

Breanna and I went to the gym with all the younger grades and she looked so small sitting on the floor amid so many other kids. She was very quiet, just looking around and taking it all in. I offered to take her sweater and stick it in her bag since it was quite warm but she knew she had a hook outside her classroom and insisted on wearing it until she could go hang it up in her designated spot.

Once they called her name for her teacher’s class, she got up and filed out of the gym to go to her classroom for the first time. By then Hayley had also gone over to her own classroom so George headed over and got to see Breanna in her class before we left. I helped her find her desk, put her name tag on, and then she went to sit on the floor in front of her teacher.

We said goodbye and then left so we could get to work and class could start. I’m very proud that I didn’t bawl. I did tear up but not until I had left. 🙂

I was actually quite happy to have to go to work since it gave me a distraction. Had I been home (I would have taken the whole day off if I could have) I would have ended up pacing most of the day until school was over.

It was so exciting to come home and hear all about their day. Hayley had been pretty nervous about being the new girl but she wasn’t the only one who was new to the school and all of her stories were positive. Her teachers are very nice and friendly and were eager to help her get settled, and she already had a few names of girls that she had talked to, including one that had asked her to play at recess.

Meanwhile Breanna was just brimming with excitement, telling me about how her teacher had read them three stories, including The Kissing Hand which was apropos since I had kissed their hands before taking them to school. Breanna even brought home her very first piece of school-made artwork based on the story.

She also told me all about the toys in the classroom and that she had played with the wooden kitchen, some wooden blocks, and the sand table. She also ate every bit of food that I had sent her, not a surprise to me!

I’m so happy that they both had a good day. I know it will take a little while to really get settled in, but the school has a good vibe for me and I’m pleased with the teachers and the vice-principal that I met so far. We have a curriculum night coming up in a couple of weeks so I’ll get to know more about everything then, but so far so good.

I can’t believe I have two kids in school now!

Labour Day Weekend

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Sherry

I must say that I love that even though I’m still quite new at work I get a (paid) day off on holidays. Rather nice! With it being Labour Day weekend, it was especially nice to enjoy a three-day weekend since we don’t know how much longer we have before the cold air starts to settle in. The days have already become much noticeably shorter so it’s good to enjoy whatever is left!

Friday saw us just relaxing after I got home but on Saturday one of George’s cousins and his girlfriend came by for dinner so we had a good evening just hanging out at home with them. On Sunday we had to brave the crowds at Walmart – there are about 400,000 people in Halifax and a large number of them were at Walmart, gah! – to pick up some stuff for the kids to start school.

What’s especially handy is that we didn’t even have to buy school supplies this year. Our school just asks for a (reasonable!) fee and they supply the kids with everything they need. Could we have saved a bit of money getting stuff ourselves? Oh, maybe. However, it’s worth it to not have to hunt down specific type of notebook or folder right down to the serial number.

After we got what we needed, which included getting each of them a backpack, (and they came with a matching lunch bag, pencil case, and water bottle), a new pair of running shoes, and a first day outfit (it’s strange to not have to do uniforms!), we headed downtown and wandered along the waterfront for a little over an hour. We stopped for lunch, checked out the boats, and the kids played at the playground to burn off steam.

More photos below! Continue reading →

Water weekend

Posted on August 23, 2011 by Sherry

Over the weekend we decided to take advantage of three things: No work, beautiful weather, and living in a place surrounded by water.

Saturday found us at the beach, frolicking in the ocean. I’ve been in the Atlantic many times now and that was the warmest it’s ever been this high up the coast. Naturally the Atlantic is very pleasant for swimming down south but up here, well it’s usually on the chilly side and you just go with it because you don’t have any other choice if you want to get in there. However, the water was perfect and I had a ball swimming around (no rogue waves tried to drown me like last time, when I got slammed face-first into the sand by a wall of water).

The kids are getting braver, especially since we brought their lifejackets with us. They were both running all over the place, jumping over waves and having a great time. It was a fantastic way to spend a hot, sunny afternoon as a family.

A few dogs showed up (with their owners of course) and although there’s a sign saying that dogs must be leashed, they unhooked the leashes and all three dogs swam with their people. They didn’t bother a soul and no one complained (no lifeguards). I like that. As long as you aren’t actively upsetting anyone, things are fine. Not one dog went up to sniff anyone, they just swam, splashed, and behaved. It was awesome.

(Taken by George)

On Sunday the kids wanted to go to a nearby lake instead. Part of that was because although Hayley had a great time jumping waves, she wanted to go somewhere that would let her just paddle around. The beach at this particular lake is quite small and I worried that maybe it would be packed on such a beautiful Sunday afternoon but it wasn’t too bad after all.

The water was really warm so I was able to enjoy another day of swimming around and enjoying the day. Breanna had a moment of panic when she suddenly couldn’t touch the bottom and was cautious the rest of the time we were there but she had fun and is slowly learning to trust the lifejacket.

There were a couple of ducks there who are obviously very used to people and they weren’t scared at all. One swam all of a foot away right in front of Breanna and then two others poked around the beach, looking for dropped crumbs.

(Taken by George)

I don’t believe in daily horoscopes. They’re usually a load of crap and if they happen to come true it’s because it can be twisted to fit your situation. However, I do believe there’s a certain amount of truth to astrological signs. As a Cancer I’m a water sign and that couldn’t be more accurate for me. I’ve always been a water person and living in a place that has the entire Atlantic ocean up one side and hundreds of lakes dotted all over the place… well, I couldn’t live in a more perfect place, really. Even at work I can see a wee bit of the Halifax Harbour from the windows and even that’s enough to make me smile and feel relaxed.

Summer is wrapping up soon but hopefully there will still be time for a handful of beach runs before it gets too cold.

Working Wardrobe, week of August 15th

Posted on August 21, 2011 by Sherry

I’m about to start another week at work. It’s supposed to rain on Monday and possibly some showers on Tuesday so I’m full of regret that I left my nice new umbrella hanging on the back of a public bathroom door a couple of weeks ago. At least I still have a small one but I’ll need to buy a decent-sized replacement soon.

What I wore for the week of August 15th, although I inexplicably forgot to take a picture on Thursday. Oops!

Monday:

I also got photobombed by my own child.

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

We were all asked to dress a little more corporate than usual (a lot of people wear jeans and whatnot for casual summer) because a VIP was coming by the office.

Friday:

And although this isn’t part of the weekly working wardrobe, I must say that on Saturday I got to wear my favorite outfit of all – favorite because it meant I was swimming in the ocean!

And a new week dawns. Giddy-up!

Oh my aching head…

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Sherry

Work is going very well but at the same time I still haven’t fully adjusted to getting up early in the morning and engaging myself in something as rigorous as a full day of training so I find myself tired a lot, especially by the time evening rolls around. This week we’re learning a lot of computer systems that we need to know and as a result I’m amazed that I’m sitting here in front of a computer at all, simply because I’ve had enough of monitors by the time I get home.

It doesn’t help that I didn’t get nearly enough sleep last night and have had a dull headache on and off throughout the day. I don’t think I’ll be up much longer. An hour tops (that will be 11 pm my time) and I’ll be in bed, but it’s highly likely that I’ll crash earlier than that.

Fatigue and feeling slightly overwhelmed aside, I do love what I’m learning and the place in which I am learning it.

I must say though, I am very much looking forward to the weekend. I’m not entirely sure why that is since I don’t have any big, spectacular plans at the moment but what I do know is that right now the forecast says it will be nice weather for both Saturday and Sunday and now that I’m working I can actually appreciate weekends again. I am anticipating being outside at least a little bit. I foresee drinking coffee on the back deck, breakfasts where I make home fries and George makes bacon and french toast, and maybe an outing or two to enjoy the beautiful weather while we still can.

Who knows, maybe we’ll even make it to the beach. And if we don’t, that’s okay too. As long as we can all relax and take some time to bask in the joy of the weekend, I’ll be happy.

Working Week, August 8-12

Posted on August 16, 2011 by Sherry

I’m already into yet another week of working and I can’t believe how quickly time is flying by. Sometimes it’s a bit of a shock to look at the calendar and see how many days have passed. Here’s last week’s working wardrobe. I’m really looking forward to slowly adding more pieces. I don’t really have a big enough wardrobe to bother to keep on giving the brand for each thing that I wear so I’ll just mention if I get something particularly interesting or new. I’m a big fan of thrift shops, so I’ll also mention if I get a good deal on something.

Monday:

That sweater is quickly becoming one of my favorite staples and I tend to take it with me daily in case the air conditioning gets to be a bit too much. I love the way it imitates a shawl along the back.

Tuesday:

My sister may have to beat me over the head with a brick to get this top back.

Continue reading →

Life near the ocean

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Sherry

Recently our good friends Dino, Nancy, and their daughter all came out to Halifax for their vacation time and we had such a great time. Obviously I couldn’t be around all the time because of when I started work but it was okay and I got to spend evenings with them. Two particularly fun times were Natal Day (August 1st), and the following Saturday, August 6th. We all headed out to Crystal Crescent Beach and having never been there either, I really didn’t know what to expect. Let me put it this way: Lawrencetown Beach was my number one favorite ocean spot for years, but it has now been bumped down to the second place slot. Crystal Crescent is stupidly gorgeous. The first time we went it was foggy and it was STILL amazing. Then we went back the second time and it was clear, and it was even more beautiful.

The real reason that we moved to Halifax was to have better opportunities, a fresh start, and a good future for our family of four. However, I often joke that I moved here for the ocean. It’s not too hard to believe that though, is it?

It also makes yoga feel that much more fun (and considering my love of yoga, that’s saying something!).

It’s within such a short driving distance that it’s almost ridiculous. This beach definitely falls into the category of, “Do I really LIVE here?! Seriously?”

I can’t wait to go back.

Working wardrobe, week two

Posted on August 7, 2011 by Sherry

Well, I survived my second week of work. I like the way the timing worked out. We started on a Friday, then had a long weekend, and as a result we then only had a four-day work week. It wasn’t really intentional, that’s just the way that it happened, but it really is a better way to ease back into working when you haven’t done that in almost a decade.

I’ve come to the realization that I need to do some shopping soon. Luckily I do love thrift shops so I don’t necessarily need to go drop a ton of cash, but I’m definitely going to have to get some more tops and maybe another pair of pants or a skirt to be able to create an actual wardrobe. I have a serious shortage but I’m doing the best that I can for now; it helps that George found a bag with a few more of my tops that are okay for an office so I’ll have a bit more selection. Since I love clothes but hate shopping, that’s a good thing. In the meantime, here’s what I pulled out over the past week.

Continue reading →