Well deserved getaway!

As new parents it can be easy to get lost in being just that, a parent. We can forget all our other roles, its easy look how cute your baby is...lol. But every once in a while it is ok and highly suggested to take some time for you.

Knox is coming up to 11 months, the time has just zipped by, and this past weekend was my first night away. We took a mini vacation to Kingston with my sister in law Charly and her hubby. We didn't make any grand plans, just knew that it would be nice to putter around on our time and be free to do whatever. So we puttered through stores, drank coffee while it was still hot, ate at a normal pace (not having to feed someone else or chase them), partook in a few adult beverages and simply relaxed. It was a much needed recharge.

Knox and my niece Harper had a fantastic time with there nanny and poppy and the mommies and daddies had a wonderful worry free weekend to be husbands, wives and friends.

Knox having fun at Cannamore Orchard  

If you are a new parent and are feeling a little house bound or a little disconnected from the adult world, maybe this is exactly what you need. It doesn't have to be anything extravagant or over planned. If an overnight is not something your ready for just yet, sometimes even a day or afternoon can do the trick.

Parents gone wild in Kingston lol

With me getting ready to go back to work, Charly and Jake getting ready to welcome another baby into the world, the timing couldn't have been better. And Ryan and I got to walk around holding hands, it was very nice!

So remember in the land of Barney, Dora, bottles and little people, there is a whole other world, don't forget it!

Lotsa Love,
Natasha

4 Trips I need to take!

What destinations do you dream of? If you could go anywhere where would you go?

I have been luck enough to visit some amazing locations like; Costa Rica, Boston MA and Jasper AB, just to name a few. I believe I am definitely a home body but there are a few places that I have placed on my wish list of places i'd love to visit.

Vegas- Poker, Cirque du Soleil, slot machines and all the sparkly lights are something I must explore! This will have to wait till Knox is a bit older and can stay home with the grandparents so he doesn't have to witness mommy and daddy going crazy in vegas...lol

Boston- Yes this is on my list even though I have already been. When I went to Boston, I went with a large group of women for a wedding dress shopping event called running of the brides. It was a blast but we only went for the weekend, spent most of it waiting in line for or participating in the running of the brides (our bride got her dress YAY). We got to explore Harvard and do a bit of shopping and a lot of bar hopping. But there is still a lot on my to do list for Boston. I'd love to go to the aquarium, explore the harbor front and show my hubby Ryan the city I had so much fun in. The people were amazing and I loved my time there. It would be great to go back as a family and explore a totally different side.

Vino- Anyone who knows me knows I love food and wine! lol So one of my dream trips would be a food and wine tour of Italy and France. Exploring the countryside, touring old vineyards, buying local foods...i'm already drooling lol. I would absorb so much from this trip, more then just the wine lol. This is definitely at the top of my list!

Picture from -
 http://globeattractions.com/france-town-homes-buildings-mountains-france-nature/

Canada Eh- As a child my mom took me to New Brunswick to visit family and I'd love to go back now as an adult. I've been lucky to travel to and live in Jasper and experience the Rockies, but that was when I was 19. So now as an adult, mommy and wife i'd love to take a chunk of time and travel from coast to coast. Explore all the beauty Canada has to offer and the yummy seafood at either coast lol (I told you I love food!). I think its important to explore and know the country you live in and that's something I want to pass down to Knox.

There are lost of places I'd gladly go, but the above mentioned trips are ones I've thought about for some time now and always seem to be in the back of my mind. Ryan and I have yet to do any traveling together and I cant wait to have some road trip adventures as a family.

What destinations do you dream of?

Lotsa Love,
Natasha

Flight or Fight?

When we are fear stricken by our phobias do we face them or accept that they are a part of who we are? No matter how silly or ridiculous some phobias may seem to outsiders the fear is very real to the person experiencing it and can even be debilitating. So how do we deal with the phobias and the people who just don’t understand?

Heights, small enclosed spaces, snakes, spiders and frogs (yes you read that last one right) are on my list of things that terrify me. Most people understand most of my fears; however my fear of frogs tends to get more laughs then understanding and comfort.

I almost gave up a trip to Costa Rica because of my phobias, knowing that everything I’m afraid of would be in my face and a lot bigger then home made me say no to an amazing trip the first time asked. It wasn’t until a few glasses of wine and my mom and sister coaxing me that I finally said yes to an amazing experience. Once in Costa Rica, I barely lasted a few days; we were smack dab in the middle of a rain forest on a biodynamic farm and were literally living with creepy crawlies. I was terrified to sleep and with a heavy schedule of yoga, crazy volcano hikes and other extremely exhausting activities I was physically and emotionally drained; missing my hubby I almost booked a flight home cutting my 15 day trip extremely short. I had to tell myself “ok so either you can suck it up and try to enjoy paradise or you can run home and never know what you are capable of”. Well I sucked it up and tried all the activities I originally said no too; zip lining over the rainforest, rappelling down a 350ft waterfall, crazy hikes and exploring the rainforest. I am sure I gave the night guard years of laughter seeing me trying to be brave and venturing outside of my cabin past night fall, screaming and running from frogs, snakes and giant bugs. But I did it and was actually able to sleep through the night.

I think I can...I think I can!

Since my trip; my fear of heights is a lot better and little spiders don’t terrify me anymore, I’ve made some great progress with those fears. However my frog fear is still as strong as ever. I cannot even rationalize it to myself. I am well aware that I am very big and they are very small and that (the ones in Canada) they can’t hurt me. But, when I see one my heart starts racing, I get anxious, feel like I’m going to cry or scream and if I lose track of where it’s gone I have to flee the area. This is why I don’t garden…lol

In my experience, both facing my fears and accepting them has worked for me. I think the best advice is to listen to your body, know your limits, which ones you can test and push and which ones are there for a reason. I’m glad I was pushed to go zip lining and challenge my fear of heights, the rush I got from flying through the air above the rain forest was amazing, and it was utterly breathtaking. However if someone tried to push me into a situation with frogs I would lose my…after I was able to breathe again.

If people never changed, the world would be an incredibly boring place. We evolve, “grow up”, move on, our tastes change and we experience life, this is what makes us so unique. What defines us can change, so why can’t our fears?

Whether you’re afraid of squirrels, june bugs, snakes, needles, garden gnomes or frogs; know that it is your fear and its ok. Don’t let people make you feel bad about having a phobia, regardless if they can’t understand it.  Challenge yourself and grow; but know it is ok to be you, even if that means running scared from a frog!

Lotsa Love,

Natasha

When in Rome

When was the last time that you explored the city you lived in? It is so easy to justify shopping expenses when we are on vacation, we can spend whole days shopping or wandering around exploring an area. But, for some reason most of us don’t allow ourselves to indulge on home turf.

A bit of luck from John himself!

On my recent trip to Boston, my girlfriends and I spent an entire day exploring and shopping and then finished it off with dressing up and hitting the town. I do not think that there was any part of our day that wasn’t indulgent or frivolous. It was an amazing day filled with great clothes, food, drink and culture.

This wasn’t our first trip like this, three years ago we had a similar trip to Syracuse. But I cannot for the life of me think of the last time we did something like this at home. It would be so easy to drive into the city and have a very similar day without the seven hour drive, but we don’t...and that makes me wonder why?

Maybe part of it is when you’re on vacation you can justify to yourselves additional expenses. You have to eat, so why not eat out at a great restaurant? You’re going out to a fabulous bar you may never go to again, so why not get an outfit to match? You’re in a fabulous city so why not treat yourself so you feel the same? Or could it simply be the old saying “When in Rome?”

So why do we not feel like we need to be pampered at home, is it because when we’re here all of our responsibilities are glaring at us so it’s not as easy to splurge? Do we not feel as worthy unless we can justify it with a getaway?

The kind of curious freedom that was felt that very warm sunny afternoon in Boston should be felt every day. Yes we have responsibilities, bills and jobs when we are home. But you should not be a slave to them. We should all find time to feel like stars even if it is in our own back yard.

Now I’m not saying to avoid responsibilities or blow all your money on a shopping extravaganza. But I am saying to treat yourself every once in a while and that should not mean every THREE years. It doesn’t even have to have a monetary value attached to it. Take an extra hour getting ready and walk out of your house feeling like a star. Window shop with friends and end it with a walk around town. 

Indulge!

Whatever you decide to do, do it for you, embrace the delectable moment you’re in. Don’t feel guilt to pamper yourself every once in a while. Don’t let yourself forget what it’s like to be pampered.  Strut around town like there’s no one else like you, because there isn’t. This isn’t just for the single girls or married girls without children yet. Especially all you Mom’s out there, take time for you! Giving a little to yourself will help you to feel renewed and will in turn give you that extra boost of energy that you can pour right back into your kids. Allow those moments to seep into your life and watch how they make everything shine.

Lotsa Love,

Tasha

Back from Boston

Chillin with John Harvard.

Yes that does say guiness latte.

Much needed Starbucks.

No explanation needed...lol

What a great trip! Back from a whirlwind adventure in Boston with my girls and now getting back to routine. Sorry I have not posted in a week, but Charly and I were both in Boston and away from routine, wiffi and free time to write.

I had some wonderfull experiences and got to help out an amazing friend this past weekend though so it was all worth it. I am sure just from this trip I will have so much more to pull from in writeing my blog.

We got to take part in the Boston running of the brides, sorry correction we rocked it. We got to be tourist and explore a small part of Boston.

Don't worry Boston, we'll be back...lol

I will be getting back to my regular posting today.


Lotsa Love,

Natasha