My Last Night.

Today is my last full day in Calgary. Tonight is my last night. Tomorrow I'm off to New Brunswick. I'm excited to be home to see family, friends, and to be back in the Maritimes. But the closer it got to the time I had to leave, the more I realized how much I'm going to miss it here in Calgary.

Calgary is a great city! It's also a young city. And there are a lot of people out there that have a similar story to myself. Lots of people are from elsewhere and have come to Calgary in search of the same thing I did - work and experience. However, I am leaving with so much more than that.

Firstly, I'm leaving 32lbs behind in Calgary. That's right, since moving to Calgary and starting my weight loss journey, I've lost a total of 32lbs. I'm a runner now too! So many lifestyle changes it's crazy! But it's also for the better.

Secondly, I am so much more independent now. I moved out here in hopes of discovering within myself the ability to live away from major support systems (ie: the family). I know this might sound bad, but I just needed to know if I was capable of being responsible for my own well being. I don't know if I am making any sense when I say this, and I don't want it to sound like I am some sad human being (because I don't think I am and I need a social life!) but I just needed to know if I would be okay alone. In a good way. And I was. And I am. 

Next, I fell in love with the city life. As a small town country girl, there was some aspect of being sheltered that came with growing up. I don't resent it in the least, and I LOVE where I came from. But I quickly learned after living in Calgary that I am a city girl. I love that there is always something to do, someone new to meet, something new to see. I was constantly discovering new areas of the city, and falling in love with the mixture of bustling, busy city going and laid back, relaxing country living. It's the best of both worlds out here, and I am so glad I discovered it. 

But most importantly in my books, I am leaving after having made some amazing friends and built stronger relationships with the ones I already had. The people I have met here are some of the most diverse, unique, generous, and beautiful people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. To be honest with you and myself, I only felt like Calgary was becoming a home and that I was meant to be here four or five months ago. Mostly after coming back from Christmas holidays. My relationships were becoming stronger, I was feeling comfortable at work, I loved my apartment, and I wasn't afraid to explore the city. And now I'm leaving...

And I'm okay with that. As much as I am going to miss it, I know that this upcoming adventure is one that will continue to change my life and allow me to discover new parts of myself. I'll continue to grow, and that can only be a good thing in my opinion.

But I know I'll be back.

5k or Bust.

I completed my first 5k race run on Sunday. And really it wasn't the first time I ran 5k, but I can hardly call it a race. I started, I ran, and I finished. AND I wasn't the last one across the finish line. But I wasn't racing. I was accomplishing a goal, taking part in a fundraiser, and supporting a cause that hits close to home and that I truly believe in.

First some background information...

How did I get here? Well, as I've discussed before on this blog, I've made a lifestyle change over the last six months. I knew I wanted to be healthier and I knew I wasn't happy with my body image and the way I felt. I am the only one who can change this about myself, so I did. I joined Weight Watchers and it has slowly transformed the way I live day to day and the way I think about the things I am doing to my body. I am much more concious of the decisions I'm making when it comes to the food I am consuming. Yes, I still make bad decisions - but at the time they feel good. I don't think it is fair to deprive myself completely of the things I crave, like a burger. However, I also don't think it's fair to treat my body so poorly and eat these things ALL of the time (like I was doing previous to turning my life around). There has to be a happy medium and I am almost there.

So, my eating habits have taken a drastic turn for the better. On top of that though, I'm exercising. And this my friends is a huge effing deal!!! Talk to my family and my closest friends and you will quickly learn that I am not the exercising type. In the past, 97% of the time I would much rather sit on my butt and do whatever then get up and work out in any way shape or form. I still have these moments, but I am pleased to announce that I am turning into a runner. I still haven't stepped foot in a gym over the last six months, but I have gone to the pool, ran, and did cardio classes in the comfort of my living room. I know eventually I'll make that step into the gym, but for now I am definitely seeing major results from running outside and swimming now and then. But like anything else, I needed a goal or something to work towards to keep me motivated. After talking to my good friend Jenny and asking if she would be interested in running with me, I signed up for a 5k in support of the Brain Tumour Foundation.

And that brings us to the present. It took me a while to be able to run a full 5k (and by this I mean reaching that distance, not running the entire way) but I can do it now and I am so proud of myself. My goal going in to the 5k was to run under 40 minutes and to NOT be the last one to cross the line. And I did just that. I ran the 5k on Sunday in 39:22 and I wasn't even close to being the last one across the line.



This hill at the end of the race ruined me.

My favourite part of the run? Well, besides the gorgeous scenery at Fish Creek Park where the run was held, my favourite part was probably the interaction I had with another runner as we approached the finish line. I know how I felt as I got closer to the finish line: tired, my legs were killing me, out of breath, and I was barely holding on! So I can only imagine how attractive and composed I looked to others. This one gentleman run up  beside me and yelled to me "Your doing it! We're almost there!" He slowed his pace down and ran to the end with me cheering me on the whole way. Once we crossed the line, he gave me a high five and told me that I should be very proud! And then he walked away. I was smiling so big I totally forgot about how much pain I was experinicing in my legs at the moment.

So, I did it. I did it for me, I did it for my health, and I did it for Grandad. Always & Forever.

Hopeless Wanderer.

What a fantastic concert! 

Back in March, I wrote a post about how much I love going to concerts and listening to live music. After seeing Maroon 5 at the Saddledome, I wasn't sure how I felt about "big stadium" concerts. I loved seeing Maroon 5 and being in the same building as the gorgeous Adam Levine, but it wasn't as intimate and "special" as the smaller venue concerts I had been to. And then I went and saw Mumford & Sons...

AMAZING! 

They played at the Saddledome too, and the show was absolutely sold out. In fact, when the tickets went on sale a couple of months ago they sold out in roughly one minute. Listening to their music, I just didn't think they were the "stadium" type. I felt like their concerts were meant to be in smaller venues with that personable touch. And I'm sure a concert like that with them would be spectacular, but the concert I went to Tuesday night with Katie, Sam, and Mollie was equally as mind blowing. 

I have to take a minute and thank Cara and Amanda, two of the greatest friends, for introducing me to this beautiful band. Between listening to them in Cara's residence room in Vanier, to cruising through the state of Maine heading towards Vermont with Amanda, they began to grow on me. So much so that I downloaded their albums Sigh No More and Babel when it was released. So ladies - THANK YOU! 

Magical is probably the best word to use to describe this experience. They played every song I wanted to hear (except Broken Crown). During their encore, they moved to a stage closer to our seats (I freaked!) and did their version of a Bruce Springsteen classic, I'm On Fire. They also sang a cappella. Enough said. Also, I've never seen someone play a banjo as furiously as they did! What a work out. During their last song, Marcus Mumford sang his last note and dropped the microphone and its stand to the ground. And the crowd erupted. Just spectacular! 

This concert just reaffirmed my love for live music and saw my love for Mumford & Sons grow 200%! 

PS - THANK YOU SAM FOR THE INVITE! 

Music Fills My Heart and Soul.

I love music. I love listening to it, I love dancing to it, and I love singing along to it (even if I'm off key!). Everyone has a song (or several) that they connect to. A song for every feeling and occasion. Many of my memories of the past are formed around a song or take place in the presence of music. Parties at 860, road trips to Vermont, sleepovers in high school at Sara's, battling the loss of a loved one, nights out on the town, the list could go on forever. Listening to music is one thing, but being there to hear it live is another. 

Two weeks ago one of my favourite bands of ALL TIME were in Calgary. Tegan and Sara have a special place in my heart. My best friend, Sara, introduced them to me in high school. So many of their songs resonate with me. "Walking with a Ghost" was the first song I heard by them back when I was 16. I always think of Sara when I hear this song. "Where does the good go" reminds me of Grey's Anatomy and how Sara and I spent many an evening watching episode after episode of Grey's in my basement. The whole Sainthood makes me feel nostalgic for my university days and living in Holy Cross. This was when I first saw them live at the Playhouse in Fredericton with Sara and KP. So, when I heard they were coming to Calgary, I asked literally ALL of my friends here if they were interested in going. Thank you, Mollie!

They were amazing. Their quick banter back and forth was the cherry on top of some amazing music. They played ever song I wanted to hear, and man did I ever sing loudly! I danced, I got choked up, and I smiled a lot. I was extremely tired at work the next day, but I didn't care one little bit.

Then, only a short week later, I went to see Maroon 5 with my good friend Jenny. The thought of being in the same place as Adam Levine made me very excited (no one can deny that this man is very beautiful!) I've only ever been to one other big stadium concert, so I didn't really know what to expect. What I didn't know was that there would be a lot of people and a lot of screaming! And I was very right! But that certainly didn't take away from the fun that I had. The concert was at the Saddledome - the big arena that the Calgary Flames play in. Jenny and I were seated at the back way up in the nosebleeds. Thank goodness for Jumbotron's! As soon as the band came out on stage, Jenny and I were on our feet dancing. And there I stayed for the remainder of the night. My voice was so horse and dry and sore for the rest of the night and into the next day. The band played every song I wanted to hear and I had such a good time. Worth every penny and dime. 

I took lots of videos from both concerts and attempted to share them on here, however, my computer doesn't seem to want upload them. Or maybe Blogger is being stubborn. And my pictures aren't that great as it's hard to capture a good shot with the lighting of a concert. But I have the memories...

Welcome to Dinner Night!

Since moving to Alberta, some of my friends and I have started a monthly dinner night ritual. These nights see a pair host dinner where they create a main course to share with 6 guests. The 6 other guests rotate between bringing dessert and beverages. The nights usually end with board games and other fun activities that tend to lead into a session of gut-busting laughter. Food, friends, and games...what else could be better? 

This weekend, Andrea and I were up to host dinner night. Before I go any further, I need to back track a bit about a month to Christmas 2012. For Christmas, Mom wrote out some of my favourite family recipes and arranged them into a book for me. What a special gift! So, I knew immediately that I wanted to make one of these family favourites for my friends. Meal of choice? Lasagna! And I don't think I've ever been so nervous to cook for a group of people. The meals we have had so far during these dinner nights have been outstanding! Homemade tacos (and by homemade, I mean EVERYTHING made from scratch - from the tortillas to the refried beans) and delicious comforting chili at another. Also, I was making a recipe I have never made before. Not always the best idea when hosting 6 people for supper, but with patience and by following the recipe exactly, I knew I could do it...(and with a little encouragement and reassurance from mother and father dearest!) 

 Good thing I read the recipe earlier in the week before making the lasagna on Saturday! Because to my surprise, I had to let the sauce simmer for 4 hours. I completely understand why this step is necessary - to help develop and marry the flavours together. So the sauce simmered, and simmered, was stirred and stirred, then simmered some more. In all honesty, this recipe is super simple, just takes time. 

Once the sauce is done, and the lasgna noodles have been cooked in boiling water, all that's left is to layer everything together. A little bit of sauce needs to be placed on the bottom to keep everything from sticking, then you layer noodles, sauce, cottage cheese, and mozzerella cheese, repeating until the pan is full. I made two layers. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 1 hour and you've got a gooey, delicious, cheesy main course. To go with the lasagna, Andrea made her mother's homemade caesar salad. The dressing Andrea made was to die for! Garlicy and creamy, it truly is a good thing we were all eating the same meal. Garlic galore. And it was a hit! 

I've really been enjoying these dinner nights. I'm getting to know new people, getting to explore the things I love (cooking and food!) and I'm getting to try new things. It's an affordable way to have fun in this large city! I Skyped with one of my good friends, Cara, yesterday. During our talk, we discussed how sometimes I feel like my life is stagnant and I'm not going in the right direction. When I told her about these fun dinner nights, she was amazing in reminding me that this is proof that I'm putting myself out there and finding new adventures. Sometimes it's hard to keep these things in perspective when you watch other peoples lives develop and change as well. But it's good friends like Cara that keep me level headed. And it's these dinner nights that keep me passionate and allow me to have fun!

My Weekend.

I had a good weekend, did you?

Friday night I went to a dinner party at my friend Jenny and Gary's. Gary made his homemade tacos, and they really gave me a new perspective on how delicious such a simple meal can be. He made the tortillas from scratch, as well as the guacamole, salsa, and refried beans (I LOVE REFRIED BEANS!).  My mouth is watering just thinking of all the flavours that exploded in my mouth. These dinner party nights are going to hopefully become a regular occurrence in my life. There is a group of 8 of us in total that will rotate dinner party duties once a month. Andrea and I will be hosting in the new year sometime, and I am really looking forward to having everyone over to our place where we cook for them. I love to cook, and I don't often get to cook and share my love for food with other people. I'm quite excited to partake in this routine and learn new things as well as share some of my own secrets.

On Saturday, Jenny, Andrea and I went to Banff for the day. Andrea's aunt filled us in on some Christmas events that were happening in Banff on Saturday and invited us to meet them there. Mainly, we wanted to walk down the shopping street (Banff Ave.) and check out all the cute little shops and stores, take in the Christmas parade, then have a nice meal at a pub. And we accomplished all of those things. I picked up a few small Christmas presents for friends and family, as well as enjoy a holiday beverage while slush fell from the sky (I say slush because it wasn't snow, nor rain, nor freezing rain. Just slush). We watched the cute little Banff parade and almost froze our toes off in the process. Then we had a wonderful meal at a pub above the shops called "Elk and Oarsman." I had a lamb shank with a yummy honey barbecue sauce, butternut squash bread pudding and grilled vegetables. A nice beer to wash it down made for an almost perfect meal! Our table was right beside the fireplace, and the restaurant had this ski lodge feeling about it. The ambiance was comforting (minus the drunk middle aged man who spit on a woman at the bar and got kicked out...) 

Here are some pictures of my day in Banff: 

There was something about the snow covered mountains, bright Christmas lights, crisp and cold air, and quaint small streets of Banff that made us feel like we were in the Swiss Alps somewhere. I felt comforted, warm, and happy. I said to Jenny on our way home that night that as the days pass and I experience more of the west the more normal and comfortable it feels. I'm so excited to come home to the Maritimes for Christmas and to see all of my closest friends and loving family. But I know when it is time to come back to Calgary, I'll be okay. Because I'm making a new home, slowly but surely. 

City Girl.

Last weekend, a bunch of us "Calgarians" went to a hockey game at the Saddledome. With the NHL lockout, it seems like taking in a WHL game on a Friday night is the thing to do for us hockey fans. I've felt like something was missing from my life, and it was the smell of the rink, the atmosphere of the game, and the team spirit. Growing up watching my brother play hockey saw a love for the sport grow within me. So, when Jenny proposed going to see a game with a group of people, I didn't hesitate to commit! 

The hockey game was great and everything, but I learned something about myself that night that has nothing to do with hockey. Allow me to paint a picture for you. My roommate Andrea and I both work until 6pm and the game started at 7pm. We knew we wanted to cab or take the transit to the Saddledome. By 6:40pm when we still hadn't succeeded in contacting a cab (ALL phone lines were busy!) we ran to catch the bus outside the apartment. We already know at this point that we are going to be late for the 7pm start time. We had to make a connecting bus downtown, but because of construction, we couldn't find the stop. Here's where the story gets good...

Andrea: "They must have removed the bus stop because of construction!"

Me: "Should we take the C-Train?" 

Andrea: "I don't know..." 

Me: "Or I could hail a cab!?" 

As I stepped off the curb slightly, and with the swift lift of my left arm holding up one finger and waving at the yellow SUV cab coming my way, the driver swerved in our direction and gave us a lift to the rink. I sat in the front seat with this goofy grin on my face, not knowing that Andrea was thinking the exact same thing I was. When we got out of the cab, Andrea just looked at me and said (something along the lines of): "You look like you've done that before!"

I had my first Carrie Bradshaw moment...This means I'm a real city girl, right?!