Love: The Northern Wander Women

   Hello my dear readers and happy Friday to all! With a new weekend starting in just a few more hours, I'm bubbling with anticipation. I'll be heading up north for the weekend to meet and catch up with some old friends I heaven't seen in a long time! But that isn't the only SUPER EXCITING THING that's got me in such a good mood. My friend Gen and I have officially launched our travel blog!!!

   As we spent the last few weeks brainstorming, fiddling and organizing the launch, the Northern Wander Women blog is up! We are also on quite a lot of social media sites so it's easy to like and follow us wherever, whenever! If you want to see how you too can travel instead of tour this wonderful world of ours (whether its across the sea, or your own backyard) stay tuned and follow us as we roam from home!

Twitter: NWanderWomen
https://twitter.com/NWanderWomen

Facebook: Northern Wander Women
https://www.facebook.com/northernwanderwomen/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Instagram: northernwanderwomen
https://www.instagram.com/northernwanderwomen/?hl=en

Snapchat: NWanderWomen

Pinterest: Wander Women
https://www.pinterest.com/northernwanderw/

and of course:

Blog: Northern Wander Women
https://northernwanderwomen.blogspot.ca/

Show your love and support dear readers, and tag along on the greatest adventures yet!

K.P.H.

Laughter: Either it's Fate or I'm Just Clumsy

   Good morning dearest readers and I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend. I, myself, had the chance to go back home to Sudbury for the weekend to spend some quality time with family and friends. Not only was it relaxing, but it turned out to be quite productive as well. But, like all of my laughter posts, all happy stories have an unfortunately hilarious twist; and this one is no exception.

   Other than hanging out with Gen at home (booking places to stay in Ireland and reviewing some things for the blog), meeting up with my best friend Jordan for coffee, playing games with my brother and going for hikes, I also accompanied my parents to our lot near the lake on Friday. We wanted to go to clear up some of the branches and brush that we accumulated on the lot. We had two fire pits set up and began to clear out the load in an environmentally friendly fashion. At some point, I felt something hot on my foot, to realize a small crackling ember had lodged itself inside my boot while I was loading my fire pit. Frantically, I put it out and paused for a quick lunch break. Things were progressing smoothly but I had resolved to be more careful, and not to stand so close to the fire pit.

   Doing so, something else happened. As I tried to stand slightly further away while throwing in the branches, I found myself leaning in closer. After repeating this a few times, and strange smell arose in the air. As I tried to grasp what it was, I brushed my hair out of my face only to realize that the smell was coming from my scorched hair. NOT A FUN DISCOVERY!!! As I nervously combed through it with my fingers, I knew that the damage was done and no amount of wishful thinking was going to fix it. So I put it up in a bun (to stop it from getting worse) and continued to clear out the brush on the lot.

   The practical thing about this whole situation, was that I already had a hair appointment planned for the Monday, so something could be done the tame and control the sizzled mess that now adorned my head. However, what I found funny throughout this whole experience was that I had been wrestling with the idea of cutting my hair shorter for quite some time. I had decided to cut it once my first work contract was done, and before heading on my next big trip; but that plan changed when I got a new contract and new trips were being planned. I wanted to grow it out even more and cut it later with a friend, so that we could donate it for a cause. I guess fate intended that I stick with my original plan, no matter the other changes taking place in my life. Either that, or I'm just too tragically clumsy for my own good.

   Despite all of the madness at the time, the change is good for me. It's a new look to suit all the new opportunities and adventures that I will be embarking on. Sometimes dearest readers, your plan A will be better than your plan B, no matter how much you wish to stop the switch. Let life work its magic and be open to happy accidents. You never know what they'll bring you!

K.P.H.

Literature: The Luck of the Irish

   Good evening dear readers! As the weekend slowly creeps nearer to us and I wait patiently for another eventful time, I almost forgot a significant day. In exactly 30 days from now, I will be boarding a plane, on my way to Ireland! The land of leprechauns, fairies, lucky clovers, guiness beer and the highest population of gingers per capita; it's going to be a great time!!

   Before every trip (like my last one to Iceland), I take the time to read up on the country. To get a virtual feel of the land and find guide books that will get me a better idea of what to expect. My goal (when exploring a new country) is to be a traveler, and not a tourist. I search for my guide books in special stores and with specific intentions. I also tend to read works by writers/poets who are from the country I plan on visiting, as well as immerse myself in music from bands from there. I try to create an experience, before the actual travel experience. The reason I do this is not only because it's fun and entertaining (because let's be real, it's like I'm becoming a local) but because it gives me something to reminisce about when I come back. It's like every time I'll read Jane Urhqhart, or listen to Kodaline, I'll get these flashback feelings from my travels. At least that's what I hope will happen. It did with Iceland. I can't help being a little nostalgic now when I listen to Kaleo or Of Monsters And Men. 

   So what I recommend to you my dearest readers is not only to research the place your planning to travel (because it's really more of a necessity to know what you're getting yourself into that just a helpful suggestion) but immerse yourself in everything at your disposal that's related to the place. Books are good, but make sure to get a mix of both fact and fiction. It'll prepare you just enough before blowing your mind once you get there. The "THERE" is fun, but it's also the "GETTING THERE" that's just as exciting.

                       

 

K.P.H.

Love: A Weekend of Wonders

   What started out as a calm weekend quickly turned into a three day adventure my dear readers. It consisted of three cities, two major events and many miles to get us from point A to point B (and when I say "we", I mean my friend Gen and I). She took the train from Kingston on Friday so that we could officially start our epic weekend early enough on the Saturday. We went to dinner, came up with a game plan for the next day, and called it a night.

   Saturday began with waffles and ice cream at the local coffee shop down the street, and soon after, we headed to the exhibition centre near the Ottawa airport for the Ottawa Outdoor show. I had gotten us tickets ahead of time, and we hoped to get some ideas (or at the very least some discounts) for anything and everything related to our travels. I had also met the organizer of the event previously (as he also happens to be the editor of that magazine) and I had high expectations. We got there in good time, explored the booths, got some tickets, pet a few animals and even participated in minnow racing. We did lose, but we didn't mind since we lost to a 5 year old little boy; he was quite pleased. We took our bags of free "swag" and headed out.

   Our next destination was Merrickville. Yes, we went to one of my favorite places since I thought it was imperative that Gen could relish in the love I have for this adorable town. We had lunch, did some shopping, bought some books and listened to the locals over some coffee. She loved the feel of it and we made a deal to come back over the summer so she could see it when it was busier and more beautiful. She didn't hesitate to agree. Then we headed back to Kingston late in the afternoon to arrive there in time for dinner. We ate at one of her favorite pubs (Red House), and once we were pleasantly content, we went back to her apartment, got in our pj's and spent our glorious Saturday night formatting and creating our new travel blog; (yes dear readers, you will get to read even more of my crazy adventures, but this time, they'll be a little more specific).

   After breakfast at a wonderful coffee shop on Sunday, I left early in the morning to make my way back to Ottawa to go to the Juno's Songwriters' Circle with Riles. As always, he managed to get amazing tickets (which happened to be front row, dead centre this time) for this intimate concert. There were 7 artists who performed songs after explaining the backstories to them. I LOVED it so much since I related with them on a personal level. What they were saying, were things I told myself often. The event was hosted by Bruce Cockburn, a legend in himself, and accompanied by performers Chantal Kreviazuk, Colin Linden, Daniel Caesar, Donovan Woods, Lisa Leblanc and Paul Murphy. Some of them I knew, and others, I grew to love in a matter of two songs. After a couple hours, the show ended and, Riles and I went to lunch. It was nice to do something a little different other than our regular movies (not that I don't enjoy them) but I always have so much fun when we try new things too.

   So as you can see my dearest readers, things don't always go as plan, but sometimes that's even better. We learn, we discover and we grow. It isn't just in travelling that we find this, but whenever we take a small step out of our comfort zone and try something different. With a busy month ahead, and a big trip coming up, I feel nothing but excitement as I await all the adventures ahead of me!

K.P.H.