Things I read on the internet this week: Vol. 1

Baby Yoda implies the existence of a Sporty Yoda, Scary Yoda, Ginger Yoda, and Posh Yoda

— Orli Matlow (@HireMeImFunny) December 30, 2019

Just like the randomness of my brain, the internet is filled with a never-ending amount of glorious random things.

Here are a few that caught my eye this week, that you might like.

Baby Yoda was impossible to miss during December, with everyone from NFL teams to stans using the lovable alien in just about everything. This tweet takes the cake for me - Spice Girls forever!

A new year brings new year-long horoscope predictions and this Gemini can’t get enough. I especially enjoyed this one from Wit & Delight, and this one from Mind Body Green (originally shared by Grace).

Loving this decade-end post from Sarah, one of my favourite bloggers/grammers.

As an adult addict of teen tv, I couldn’t help but identify with agree with this article on how adults are watching, sharing and respecting teen tv. Woo hoo!

Love seeing one of my favourite CBJ alumns, Wiz, coaching at my alma mater. Love even more that it’s for the women’s hockey team.

The Ringer’s cultural vertical has become a must-read for me, and this week I caught up on this piece, How Meghan Markle Woke Up the Royal Family.

I’ll always remember the screaming and jumping my sisters and I did when Sidney Crosby scored the golden goal in 2010. Of course, it tops this list of top hockey moments of the decade.

Speaking of Canada, following Justin Bieber’s crusade against Tim Horton’s lids was a hilarious highlight of my winter break. You really can’t take the Canada out of a Canadian….

From sweeping vistas to intimate moments, the power displayed in each of the AP’s Top 2019 photos is awe-inducing.

And finally, my favourite award show of the year is this Sunday, the Golden Globes. (I might have to bring back my mini-insta fashion reviews). Here’s a great preview of who will win, and who should win, in all the major categories.

2020 Intentions

My favourite year task planner by Appointed.

Resolutions.

Goals.

Everything just sounds so serious and scary.

As we roll into this new year and the new decade, this January’s fresh start seems much calmer than year’s past. Gone are the ridiculously lofty ambitions, instead, setting intentions seems like the healthier thing to do.
So without much ado, here are some of my personal intentions for the year 2020.

1. Wear more of my closet. While searching through my closet for a specific item last week, I happened upon a dress I completely forgot I owned. To my surprise (and delight) it fit, worked with the outfit I had styled in my head - overall a win-win situation. Since I’ll never be one of those minimalist, Marie Kondo-types when it comes to fashion, the least I can commit to this year is wearing more of my own closet.

2. Sign up for a 5k! (But not a super popular one). In 2019 I finally discovered the mental benefits to exercise, turns out it’s just as good, if not better than a glass of red wine for stress. There’s something therapeutic about pounding the pavement outdoors - it’s both head-clearing and lung-clearing at the same time. And even though 75% of my outdoor activity is walking, I figure a 5k is just safe enough to celebrate my new commitment to (consistently) moving.

3. Document more. This intention is probably accountability in disguise, but this commitment-phobic Gemini doesn’t use that word outside of the office. From fashion (see #1), to the outdoors, and everything in between, I want to share and remember more the things that bring me joy. Then maybe my #2020topnine won’t only have 12 total pictures to pull from.

4. Expand my entertainment consumption. Confession: I have a Spotify playlist called “New Faves” that hasn’t been updated since the mid-to-late 2010s. Super embarrassing, I know. (In my defence, at least Beyonce is on this list). So since it’s the start of a NEW DECADE, I figure it’s time to widen my consumption of culture and start to include more variety. I want to discover new podcasts, tv shows, books, music, and maybe even movies (if they’re under 2 hours) this year - who knows? Maybe my “new faves” will actually freshen up.

5. Wear more lipstick. This one might seem odd, but if there’s one weakness that I have when it comes to beauty products, lipstick it is. Nude, pink, fuchsia, berry, matte, glittery, glossy, stain - I own them all. Lipstick is powerful, it’s fun, and it’s a finishing step - it’s the ultimate dose of confidence before setting out the door. So here’s to a 2020 full of powerful pouts and purses brimming with fun.

6. Zap my single-use plastics/increase my eco-awareness. Thinking about climate change is overwhelming, and I want to continue to do everything I can to educate myself on small things I can do to help. Eliminating single-use plastic is a big goal of mine this year - especially those pesky clingy shopping bags. From keeping reusable bags on me at all times to making my lunch containers 100% reusable, being more eco-aware is a big goal of mine this year.

Looking at this list, it’s clear my 2020 intentions are all about taking a few extra moments and a few extra thoughts, in order to enjoy more, thrive more and live better.

I guess serious intentions aren’t scary after all.

Hello 2018

Some 2018 Goals

I wasn’t really sure I wanted to write something like this this year but after reading Grace’s post at The Stripe it inspired me to put keys on a keyboard and express some thoughts.

To be honest, I’m not really sure how I feel about 2017 at this point. For all of the anxiety I felt from the political and social state of the world, I balanced that with travel and discovery, and even managed to check off a bucket list too. I’ll have more peace about 2017 in the coming weeks, but I guess it wasn’t THAT bad.

For 2018, I’m not really sure if the thoughts below are final goals for the year, but that’s something I’m 100 percent okay with. These are just goals that I want to look back and hold myself accountable to, some things that are quasi-public to try and stick to.  

Here goes….

1. Express Myself // Thoughts of self-expression have been running through my head for the last couple weeks.  I lost myself heavily in my job in November and December, and I think that’s why I’ve been looking for an outlet for me, something I can give myself to. I'm not sure what form this self-expression will take, whether it's in the form of this corner of the internet or another visual or audible medium remains to be seen, but all I know is it's time to give more to me, instead of the alternative. 
2. Fall in love with a new band // Right now I couldn’t be more stoked for Justin Timberlake’s new album and tour (SO EXCITED!). But it’s been awhile since I’ve discovered an artist that I’ve loved, regardless of when they started on the music scene. Getting lost in a new voice and a new point of view for the first time is something I can’t wait for.
3. Get out of the country // For good? Probably not. Lately, I’ve been craving culture and diversity and itching to experience both outside of the comfort of the English language. I want to eat like a local, experience art and music in another language, and most of all, just take in the sights, sounds and feeling of a new place.
4. Nurture my girl squad // One of the greatest treats in 2017 that I was privileged to experience was placement in a women-only peer group full of support and candidness. I forgot the power of positive female relationships, ones that uplift, inspire, and provide so much support. This year I want to continue to practice what I’ve learned from these female relationships and lead others to do the same.
5. Spend more time in nature // There’s something magical about nature’s air, from the way it invigorates and refreshes, and relaxes and uplifts. Every time I spend even as little as an hour in nature, I always seem to ask my self, “why don’t I do this more often?” This year, it’s time to let nature feed my soul.

Are these it? Who knows. But it feels good to get the above goals out there and work towards achieving them over the next 300 or so days. 

The A List: March

So I guess this series is officially a monthly favourties now? I'll take it!

Here's a look a what I've been loving this past month in fashion, food, beauty, home and entertainment.

Fashion

This month was all about accessories for me, getting together my shoe and sunglasses games together for traveling and spring. And because I couldn’t resist, I also picked up a great top that can go from office to night out in a cinch. I’ve been looking to pick up a pair of mules since the holidays, but because the style is so trendy, I knew I didn’t want to spend too much money on a pair. (And the $600 Gucci’s are out of my price range). The shape of these from ASOS are fantastic, they cover lots of the foot, don’t have too many embellishments, and don’t look like a cheap knockoff of something much higher end. And the ASOS premium leather is SO comfy - I'll be wearing these all spring. Another find I’ll be wearing all spring are these QUAY sunglasses, the rose gold and mirrored lenses are super trendy, yet they’re so darn fun I can’t take them off. Speaking of fun, add this Topshop blouse to the top of my spring rotation, it’s the perfect to style for the office (black pencil skirt and heels) or a night on the town (black jeans and sandals). But be forewarned, tacos and bell sleeves aren’t a pretty pair - I might have learned the hard way. =)

Food

I’m sad to admit that outside of my trip to D.C. I didn’t branch out too far this month for my foodie fix. It’s easy to blame the weather (so I will), but I did manage to visit two of my local faves, both who are great for a quick grab and go. My first stop was Si Senor’s new Grandview location, an opening I was so excited for that I went the second day it was open. This is the Latin American sandwich shop’s second Columbus location, a location I'm thrilled is within walking distance of my house. Their sandwiches are second to none in the city, but it's their pasta salad with cilantro cream that might be their best item on the menu. So so good. My next, more frequent, stop was the Hill’s Market Downtown, one of my favorite places to pick up a quick lunch during the work week. Their prepared salads are fantastic, their sandwich and hot bar delicious, but it’s perusing the aisles for their local treats that I love the most. And with an excellent wine selection, you can grab a bottle on your way to post-work get-togethers. I’m so spoiled it's so close to the office. Speaking of after-work libations, my last foodie favorite is one that’s perfect for the warming temps. Every time I head north to Toronto, Dillion’s Distillery has become a must-stop on the way to the city. Located almost halfway between Buffalo and Toronto, the distillery not only produces some pretty original spirits, it's also an Instagrammers dream. My current fave? Their rose gin, perfect on ice with a splash of tonic for the warmer temps.  (Hills Market image via)

Beauty

What I love about my beauty faves this month is that all three of my picks I randomly stumbled upon while searching for something else. Example number 1: After wandering into a Walgreen’s to pick up some cold medicine (stupid March temps) I did a fly by of the beauty aisle because I couldn’t resist. This Rimmel bronzer randomly stood out on a featured display, with just a great no-nonsense bronzer without any shimmer. It’s perfect for adding a little warmth to my features, and way less severe than my other bronzer which I use as a contour. Example number 2: One of my all-time favorite stores is & Other Stories, and when I get the opportunity to visit one in person, I cherish it. On my last trip to DC, I happened upon their newish store in Georgetown, complete with a HUGE beauty section. After I was done drooling over Stories’ amazing shoe and bag department, I stumbled by the beauty aisles and snagged this duo blusher, the most perfect “pop of color” coral you could ask for. Example number 3: there’s not a week that goes by that I’m not browsing ASOS’ site - I love their fashion basics that just have that “it” factor. And since ASOS is like any other online retailer with their shipping policies, I’m often looking for small, inexpensive items to qualify my order for expedited shipping. My go-to department for these items is the beauty department, because they carry hard-to-find European and Korean brands, often at a super affordable price. My latest order “qualifier” is this Nip & Fab bee-sting fix lifting mask, which not only visibly plumps up my skin after I remove it, but leaves it amazingly soft. So soft, it's almost creepy how much I want to touch it, which of course means I love it. 

Entertainment

Is it me or is network tv just kind of “meh” right now? (Sorry, I don’t have HBO). Lately when it comes to my entertainment options, I’ve been looking for options outside of the big four networks, unless it is my beloved Saturday Night Live. In an era of tired tv jokes and even scarier tv news, SNL has become appointment tv for me, with Weekend Update a much-needed highlight after the events of the week. Speaking of funny people, my other comedian crush (after Colin Jost) Trevor Noah’s Netflix special was freaking FANTASTIC. His international background provides so much perspective personally to me, and his jokes are so smart compared to some of his peers. Plus who can resist jokes about drinking in Scotland? Not even the Scots. And lastly, in keeping with the British theme, I can’t stop listening to Ed Sheerhan’s latest record over and over. Castle in the Wind still remains a favorite of mine (and was featured on a previous playlist), and I’m obsessed with Save Myself. I can’t wait for his live show here in Columbus in October. 

Home

To throw out an overused word, this month has been all about the hygge for me. Between traveling, nursing a cold, and the overall March blah’s, I haven’t been doing much on the home front around my place and was more interested in being cozy and comfy than anything else. There’s no better way to cuddle up than under a great throw, and I’ve been eyeing these from Province of Canada for quite some time. One of my favorite Canadiana brands, I love how sleek these throws look, in a simple dark gray streamlined pattern. Adding to the gray/streamlined theme, while in DC I spotted these concrete candle holders from CB2, they’re the perfect traditional and modern hybrid, perfect for my bookshelf or table. I just wish I would’ve bought them then, turns out they’re only available in-store (#wompwomp). To round out the hygge-ness that was my month, this Cedar Stack candle from Boy Smells added the perfect smell of cozy after I tired of the balsam smells left over from winter. And the black glass holder looked great glowing on my tv console.