A quiet send off and looking ahead

For New Year's Eve we decided to do something a little bit different, at least for us. Instead of heading off to a party to ring in the New Year with a large group of people, we bundled the kids into the trailer and headed off for a ride around the city. It was a nice change, and just what we needed after a busy year full of change and excitement. While the children stayed toasty, nodding in and out of sleep, my husband and I rode at a leisurely place, chatting about the year gone by and the year to come. We passed many familiar places, heading into downtown through Strathcona, then coasted down to the seawall at Hornby and enjoyed the quiet and beauty of a clear night. We made it back home just in time to wish our kids a Happy New Year with our Eastern Time Zone counterparts, and then sat and chatted over some wine until midnight, listening to the revelry outside and grateful for some quiet time together. All in all it was a nice way to welcome 2013.

Riding into downtown on the quiet bike lane

Bright light on a quiet night

When reflecting on the year to come, it's easy to understand why many people come up with resolutions. It's something that I've never really done, though, knowing that it was likely I wouldn't stick to them. This year is not too different, but I have made a few promises to myself that I hope to fulfill over the next 12 months, and would like to share some with you.

"I promise that I will not shy from change": I have never really been one to fear change, but this past year brought a new challenge professionally for me. I am still learning and adapting to my new role, and have entered the new year excited and still a bit nervous to throw myself into my role. I will be travelling regularly, and meeting many different people, which will take me out of my comfort zone as a stay at home parent, but I know that it will also help me grow personally and professionally, and that can never be a bad thing!

"I promise to respect myself and my body": Many resolutions centre around weight loss and achieving the "perfect" body. I could likely stand to lose a few inches or pounds, but this promise is meant to focus on understanding that I'm not perfect, and so long as I stay healthy through eating habits and physical activity, I am doing the best I can for my health and well-being. I will also respect myself enough to know that it is not a failure to indulge once and a while. After all, food is meant to be enjoyed, otherwise chocolate wouldn't taste so good!

"I promise to make time for the important people in my life": As life gets busy, it seems the first thing to go is time with friends and family. So I make a promise to myself and those important people to make time, even an hour, to catch up, share a coffee, and share a laugh.

"I promise to be civic-minded": In 2012 I posted about several issues regarding infrastructure and the way my city could use improvements or is succeeding. This year, I will try to do more than just write. Whether through volunteering or activism, I promise to put my words into action and try to effect change in the things I am unhappy with.

There you have it. A few simple promises, all meant to help make the year ahead successful. I wish all my followers a wonderful 2013. May the year bring you excitement, adventure, and love!

Cheers to you and yours!

For love and cycling

Yesterday was a pretty special day. My husband, Chris, and I celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary. It really is hard to believe it's been so many years since we said "I do" in Guelph, ON, and how much we really have done in such a short time. 


Being pretty passionate about riding our bikes, Chris and I started incorporating them into our anniversary celebrations 2 years ago. This year was no exception. After taking in The Dark Night Rises, which was fantastic, we head out on our bikes over to Olympic Village. There we tested out the new restaurant, Tap and Barrel. I decided a nice glass of red was in order, and was more than pleasantly surprised. Everything there is local, and they're also trying something new with the wine. Instead of buying it bottled, the owners of Tap and Barrel have decided to get their wine in the barrel, and serve wine directly from them. This apparently minimizes the oxidization, and in my opinion, produces a great tasting wine!

A flavourful red for the lady and a tasty
beer for the gentleman.

Our bikes relaxing with BC Place in the background

After a couple drinks and appies, it was time to head home. Once again, we enjoyed a nice, leisurely night ride home. We chatted about life, how far we've come since our wedding day, and planned some adventures for the future. Overall, it was a great way to celebrate our lives together, with a beautiful city as the backdrop and a couple of bikes as our transportation.