These are a few (more!) of my favorite thiiings...

We did it!  We survived winter.  A cold, dark, snowy, stormy winter.  I don't believe that we've seen the absolute end of it but April is upon us and my sunroof is begging to be opened.

Enough with the naysaying though.  Let me share a few (of my favorite) thiiings that made those yucky March days just a little less yucky.




1.  Books
     Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt
Although I'm typically not super into historical fiction, and certainly not Westerns, this book had me at hello.  I love the narration and all of the obstacles these brothers face on their way to California to finish a job for the Commodore.  A really good Canadian read that may even leave your heartstrings pulled a bit tighter.  You can find Sisters Brothers at your local bookstore or online at Indigo.



2. Health & Beauty
    Olay Complete with SPF 15
I'm not the type to be picky about the products or brands I use for skin care.  To be honest, when it comes to face creams, I usually just grab whatever is over $10 but under $20 and usually on sale.  Sticking to the 60-75mL size is great because they're easier to travel with and the jars fit nicely in my medicine cabinet.

What immediately drew me to the Olay all day moisture cream was the smell.  Since I can remember, I have loved the smell of sunscreen.  I can't get enough of it.  Not the coconuty ones either.  I want the straight up Coppertone Sport goodness.  It will take you right back to your childhood frolicking at the beach or wading in the public pool. It ran me around $15 at my neighbourhood Rexall.  Oh-                                                       it's also good at moisturizing.  Bonus!

3. Online/Social Media
    LinkedIn
I know what most of you are thinking and I thought it too.  I didn't get it!  I didn't understand what the benefits of being on LinkedIn could be.  It seemed like a whole lot of work and why would I want all that information about myself floating around in cyber world for just anyone to see?  Well, it turns out that LinkedIn has some great functions other than being a way to see if your ex is still a deadbeat or if your high school sweetheart is a wealthy CEO now.  Mine is not.

LinkedIn has groups and company pages you can join to enter into conversations about anything.  You can be linked to fellow alumni, those with common interests or skills as well as any type of field or community you would like to be a part of as a listener or contributor.

If it has been two years since you set up your account and have never typed "l-i-n..." into your Google search bar since, do yourself a favour.  Give LinkedIn onnnne more chance.  Perhaps this 2 min video will help.  

4. Food & Drink

    Cajun Blackened Salmon
No Favorite Thiiings list would be complete without a good recipe.  I love fish but I don't have much experience or confidence when it comes to cooking it.  I don't really know what flavours go with what fish or how to enhance a dish with anything other than salt & pepper.  Thank goodness for this recipe from Food.com!  It's a great way to spice up a salmon fillet but you can also use this seasoning on pretty much anything else.  I substituted some spices for some others and used all black pepper since I didn't have white in my cupboard.  I made a spinach salad on the side but you could also make rice or grilled veggies.  Try it tonight!  http://www.food.com/recipe/cajun-blackened-salmon-278329

What are some of your Favorite Thiiings?  Please leave a comment below or join the conversation @midtowndiaries #favoritethiiings.

I'm a fake and a fraud and I spent way too much money on these pants...

I have a confession to make.  I've been faking it...

I know... take a moment..

Just take a deep breath...

Now that you've calmed down, just let me explain.  I've always thought myself to be a bit too high-strung.  I react quickly and emotionally, I have a hard time letting things go and I'm tend to back away from tough situations instead of taking them head on.  So what do we do when we want to change our behaviours?  We look at people we would want to be more like and see what they are doing different.  One thing that kept coming up again and again as a common factor was...  yoga.

Perfect!  Balance, flow, patience, dedication, gratitude, inner healing...  Confession time... (Lindsey Jarrett- cover your eyes)...  I can't do it.  I've tried a few different instructors, at home practice, with music, without music, wearing a sweater, wearing a t-shirt, inside, outside...  I just can't do it.

I feel like a phoney when I walk into the studio in my lululemon pants (why do they cost so much?!) and long sleeve shirt with the thumb holes.  The lady next to me is breathing too loud and ... oh god... I think my instructor just started speaking in tongues...  Does it feel good afterwards?  Yes.  Is it good for me?  No doubt.  But do I need to spend an hour doing something I don't want to do just incase I, one day, become enlightened and more connected to myself and the world?

I just don't think I'm "there".  I'm not at an open, spiritual place in my life and (I think) that's ok.  But I struggle to know if that's a sign I should keep working through or go back to my Wednesday morning spin classes where my instructor makes us sing the chorus to Fat Bottom Girls at the top of our lungs while climbing a 20 min hill.  Now that is my idea of a good work out.

Look- I am in no way dissing yoga.  I know it does incredible things for people and I have the deepest respect and admiration for all of my yogi friends.  But is it normal to start out feeling so strongly against it?  Should I keep persevering through or move on to something that is just more "me"?

Please leave your comments (and suggestions!) or join the conversation @darbyvt #yogablues