Singularly Happy

'Living Alone: 12 Things You Didn’t Know' by Bella

2012-02-01T17:26:00.001-05:00

I felt the need to post this article from Bella DePaulo, Ph.D. on the rise of solo people living alone. What I love about this article is that the author (a single by choice woman herself) shows the positive aspects of living alone. Too often we are bombarded with messages where people toute the so-called miserable life of people who live alone or people who are single. Sure, there are aspects of living alone that can suck but over all, it is not all gloom and doom. Actually, it is pretty damn great.

Bella, who writes the inspiring blog, Living Single, is here to let the masses know that being single does not automatically mean a sad and lonely existence. I know some single people (aside from myself of course) who are rocking life. They don't sit around waiting for some mr or ms 'right' to come along to make them whole. They are too busy building important careers, travelling, becoming better people, strengthening family and friendship relationships, learning new things, building new businesses. Of course, they will tell you that sometimes, living alone does have its negatives (I agree) but let me tell you, I know just as many people who live with others and feel miserable. And, lonely.

Without further ado, here is Bella's excellent article on some interesting facts on living alone.

Source

Living Alone: 12 Things You Didn’t Know

By Bella DePaulo, Ph.D

Think you know what it means to live alone? Even if you are have your own personal experiences living solo, and know lots of other people who do, too, chances are that you have been misled by the media and other myth-makers about what solo life is really like.

The most significant, intensive, and far-reaching study of solo living is described in Eric Klinenberg’s book, Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone. Due out tomorrow (February 2, 2012), it is a thoughtful and engaging book, and I highly recommend that you read every word. Here, I’ve plucked out just a dozen of the many revelations about solo living that you can find in the book. Enjoy!

In the United States, there are fewer households comprised of mom, dad, and the kids than of single people living on their own. About 31 million Americans live alone.

Have you heard the one about how single people need to “settle down”? Well, singles living solo are already settled. Follow them, and people in other households types, over a five year period and you will find that the solo-dwellers are one of the most stable types.

Do you think that living solo is mostly for the very young adults and the very old (typically women who have outlived their husbands)? Wrong on both counts. The majority of people living on their own are between the ages of 35 and 65.

The percentage of single-person households in the U.S. is high. But the 28% figure is far outpaced by the 40 to 45% of single-person households in Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark. In Stockholm, almost two-thirds of all households consist of just one person.

Living alone is not the same as feeling alone or isolated. In fact, “cities with high numbers of singletons enjoy a thriving public culture” (p. 18). If you live solo in a city and want to be with other people, often you can just walk out the door.

Does all of the media hype have you believing that young adults are moving back to their parents’ homes in droves? That’s not quite true either. For adults between the ages of 25 and 34, there has been an increase of a few percentage points, since 1960, of those living with their parents. Considering just those who are in their 20s, though, “a much smaller percentage of single Americans in their twenties live with their parents today than at any time in the past” (p. 31, quoting Michael Rosenfeld).

Although people who live alone often value solitude, the rise of solo living did not actually grow out of transcendental or monastic traditions. Instead, the culture and popularity of city living is the more significant factor.

Most old people who live alone do not do so because they have no grown children or anyone else who cares about them. It is their preference.

Solo dwellers are not just renters. Increasingly, they are buying homes of their own. “In the 1950s, real estate agents would have been surprised to see a single female client in their office; now it’s surprising if they don’t” (p. 75).

Holed up with your cat? Maybe. But people who live in couples or families are actually more likely to have a pet than people who live alone.

A few years ago, a bash-the-solo-dwellers story rippled through the media. The claim was that people living solo are taking up more resources per person than those who live in nuclear family homes. That can happen, but “Manhattan, the capital of American singleton society, is also the nation’s greenest city.” How can that be? Consider that “a family of four with two cars, long commutes, and a 2,500 square-foot house in the suburbs will leave a greater carbon footprint than four individual city dwellers who live in compact apartments and use public transportation (or, better, walk) to reach work” (p. 207).

Living alone is a norm and not an oddity, and that’s something new in the world. “Today our species has about 200,000 years of experience with collective living, and only about fifty or sixty years with our experiment in going solo” (p. 185).

Bella DePaulo (Ph.D., Harvard; Visiting Professor, UC Santa Barbara), an expert on single life, is the author of several books, including "Singled Out: How Singles Are Stereotyped, Stigmatized, and Ignored, and Still Live Happily Ever After" and "Singlism: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Stop It." Dr. DePaulo has discussed singles and single life on radio and television, including NPR and CNN, and her work has been described in newspapers such as the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and USA Today, and magazines such as Time, Atlantic, the Week, More, the Nation, Business Week, AARP Magazine, and Newsweek. Visit her website at www.BellaDePaulo.com.

Miami short trip - revisited - Day 3 (July 2008)

2012-01-24T07:40:00.000-05:00

The final day in Miami was just lovely. I had an amazing time. Would I return to Miami? probably but not if there was another unseen option available.
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Last day in Miami.

We were up at 9am and after a gourmet breakfast cooked by Gabore (fresh fruit, eggs and tangerine juice) took a leisurely walk around Biscayne Bay area to view all the stunning homes and greenery.

After our walk around the neighborhood where we took in some stunning homes and the wonderful water of the Bay, we hopped in the car and took off to Coral Gables to visit the luxurious Biltmore Hotel. Luxury is the only world that describes the way the hotel makes its visitors feel. We weren’t lucky enough to spend a night there or have the sumptuous brunch spread but we did get to walk around and take in the opulence of the building.

If I ever return to Miami, I will make sure I save enough money in order to partake of the gorgeous brunch offered. It is $90.00/person!

After the Biltmore, we drove to the Cuban Community section of Miami. It was nice to look around and people watch. Funny, it didn’t really remind me much of my trip to Cuba though. I guess nothing can compare to the real thing. We then went to Publix to get fresh meat and fixin’s for lunch. On the menu today is Goulash!

While our host prepared the lunch, Anita and I took off to take a last walk around his neighborhood as this was our last day in lush Miami. Here are some of the great pictures we took. (Our walk from this morning was nice but we had to revisit for pictures as I forgot my camera the first time. Doh!)

When we returned the house smelt wonderful and savoury as the fragrant meat scented the air. The goulash with pasta was heavenly! Wow, Gabor can really cook. We then topped off the meal with left over cake and tea/coffee. At this point, our plans had changed. We were supposed to go shopping but because of the late hour we had to bow out and get ready to head back to Canada. After getting ready, we made the half hour trek to Fort Luaderdale airport. After saying a sad goodbye to Gabor, Anita and I checked in and sat/read/chatted while waiting for our flight. We took Southwest home and although the service was great, the turbulence made me nervous. I kept thinking, I don’t want to die on a plane. Silly me. We landed without incident a whole 10 minutes early. I was overjoyed to be back on terra ferma.

After getting off the plane and changing into warmer clothing, we were freezing, we headed out. At this point, fatigue was rearing its ugly head and I was fighting off lots of loud yawns. After coming up against a traffic jam (at 12:30am!) on the QEW due to road construction, we made it to Anita’s house around 2am. I was so grateful to rest. I was beyond happy to be warm but not HOT and comfortable and sleepy in my country. I love traveling but I love getting home more.

Things I observed about Miami:

-Even on the plane, I felt the heat. It is hot as hell there but great.
-The people are overall very nice and the men are very forward. Yes, we were hit on and honked at many times.
-People love to dress in skimpy clothing and parade their bodies. No one seems self conscious or ashamed to have a few bumps. Everyone showed off their stuff.
-Fake breasts and plastic surgery is HUGE there. It is very common to see size one women sporting DD breasts-surgically enhanced of course.
-The mannequins are even designed to accommodate these large cup sizes as they too sport oversized boobies.
-Tattoos are the order of the day. If you don’t have one and you live in Miami-you better get one quick!
-The vegetation is lush and gorgeous and abundant
-Lots and lots of lizards – ew
-Spanish is everywhere
-I had no idea Miami comprised of a bunch of islands
-I was stunned at the size of the Jewish population
-Rain is on the menu at least twice a day for a minimun of 10 minute downpours
-Avocados grow right out people’s bedroom window. This is a novelty for Canadian’s, let me tell you.
-Beautiful people on beautiful beaches
-Ceveche is huge there
-Cookie-cutter, boring houses are NOT allowed. Vivid colors are an order

Enjoy some of my random pictures from pretty Miami

Miami short trip - revisited - Day 2 (July 2008)

2012-01-22T16:21:00.001-05:00

I am reposting some old trips that I took a few years ago. Taking a stroll down memory lane is really fun.

Here is my NewYork recap
Day 1 Miami

I am doing a running spin of revisiting my Miami trip; here is the second part of my 3 day adventure. Florida was fun.
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Up at 8am and after eating and shower, Anita and I gave Gabor a break by going to his complex pool and chilled for about an hour. We then allwent to a small fruit market for fresh produce. All the fruit were so sweet and delicious as they wer all kissed by the Florida sun.

We then drove to Lincoln Road Mall and took in all the wonders that is Miami. Beautiful plastic people half dressed. Wonderful stores and great places to eat. Oh yes, grand palm trees.

We then went to a sushi/thai restaurant for lunch. Gelato was on the menu for dessert. We then made a pit stop to a Starbucks (yuck). We then drove the hour or so the the Fruit and Spice Park.

What a cool place that place is. The park is full of local fruits as well as exotic vegetation including Japanese, African, Brazilian and Caribbean fruit and spices/herbs. Pictures: excotic fruits from the park. The place was wonderfully fragrant and pure.

We spent a good hour and a half there and then went back to Gabore's apartment. We freshened up, changed and headed to South Beach again to enjoy dinner with the two friends we were introduced to the night before.
From this dinner I learned that I am not a big fan of Spanish food but still had a wonderful time. We all then trekked down to Ocean Drive to take in Miami at night. This was a site to see. My eyes were all over the place. Everywhere was lit up beautifully and all the stores and restaurants were jumping even though it was ten at night.
We saw famous places such as the Carlyle, Donatelo Verssace's mansion and the famous and crazy club, Mango. After walking back to our original meeting place. At this point Andreas and his wife bade us good night and the three of us kept walking and taking in the sites. However, after about half an hour of this, Anita and I called it quits. We all climbed back into the car and made it back to his home. Our nightcap included jasmine tea, cookies and a bit of tv. We then retired to our respective beds. Long day.

Miami short trip - revisited - Day 1 (July 2008)

2012-01-20T07:39:00.004-05:00

I hope you enjoyed my New York recap. It was an amazing time but I also enjoyed Miami. Anita and I visited this hot city a few years ago and it was a great trip. Here is how much fun we had....part one.

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So, this weekend my friend Anita and I went to Miami and it was fantastic. Let me share the tale.

Day 1

Our day started off at 3am where we drove from her home in Acton to Buffalo. It was supposed to be a normal drive but of course, there was an adventure to be had. Only with her and I! We couldnt find the correct highway to the Peace Bridge for some reason. We had mapquest and it was correct but the path we were on was just not familiar. We eventually had to ask this guy who worked at a casino on where to go and he directed us. I have tell you that we were a bit nervous because we were scared that we would miss our 7am flight. In any case, we had no need to worry at all. We made it over the correct border in record time and still made it to the airport parking around 5:30am. The shuttle came around and we were dropped off to check in and then security.

We then made it to breakfast at the same place we ate last time we went to the US (New York last year). After all that, we boardered our plane bound for Fort Lauderdale, Miami. I pretty much slept and wrote all the way there.

The first time I noticed about Miami was the heat. While in the air, I felt the tempurature change and was sweating. I have to say, I was super excited. Our host, Gabor, was kindly waiting to take us on our adventure. When we entered his car he had Will Smith's "Welcome to Miami" pumping from the car stereo. Anita and I started cheering and both said, "Well done" at the same time. What a lovely welcome!

We then stopped for gas in Little Haiti which aparently is a little unsafe. I got out of the car and snapped pictures anyway. I was not trying to miss any opportunities while on my mini-vacation.

We then onforwarded to his condo in little Havana which was right on the water. After unloading our bags, we immediately set out to take in his complex. We sat around the pool and then took off to Biscayne Bay. We got some fantastic photos there of lush vegetation and beaches. It was fantastic.

We then re-entered Little Haiti for further driving and viewing. Interesting homes but we didn'tstay long. Next was downtown Miami.

It is like other cities just that the buildings are colorful and pretty or vulgar-depending on your opinion. We then drove to Indian Creek to take in all the wonderful colorful stately homes. We then drove to North Beach for a late lunch.

I finally had seafood caviche at Fifi's Place-Fresh Seafood Dining.

Then we walked like five minutes to North beach itself. All I have to say is...beautiful. Also, the people in Miami are confident! That's all I have to say. We went into the beautiful warm water and just sat being...calm.

After we drove back to Gabore's house to relax as the heat was very draining.

Tonight some of his friends are coming over the Fourth of July dinner and fireworks. This is my first American 4th of July celebration.

Dinner consisted of pork with brown sauce, asparagus and homemade spaetzle (he's German...wait, why am I constantly around Germans??)! All made by Gabor! Who is this guy?

Well, the fireworks was a bust. It rained for about two hours and all throughout the fireworks themselves which still had to go on. I really wanted to be part of the great U.S. 4th of July celbration but we only got a soaked out show. Too bad because the firework potential was great. After that we made it back to the condo and had reverse black forest cake (which Gabore made) and tea for dessert. It was fantastic!! Then the five of us had spirited discussio on Canadian and American politics, retail centers and health care.

Very interesting and eye opening. We finally made it to bed around midnight.

Revisting New York 2008

2012-01-17T17:25:00.000-05:00

I am in the process of closing my old travel blog here on blogger as all my trips will be posted on this site from now on. Over the next few days, I will be posting some revisits of my past vacations, solo or otherwise.

I will start off with New York. My U.S.A. travel buddy and I headed out on this adventure one Friday morning. This mini-vacation still tops as one of my best getaways to date.

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New York Baby!

Well, back from NYC and what a great fantastic time I had. I love NewYork. People complain about the noise, crime and crowds. I thrived on the noise and crowds and we encountered no crime. It was all good.

Friday started bright and early on a trip to Anita's house where we would be using her car to drive to Buffalo. After arriving at 5:50am we were on our way at 6:00am. The drive to Buffalo was full of lots of laughs and revelations about each others lives. All of our fun times came to a screeching halt at the border crossing. The customs agent that we got was a real prick. He literally interrogated us issuing out questions at a record clip. After our encounter with him, we were both left shaken. I mean, we were only going into your country for a few days to shop! I know we do not look like terrorists. It was all very disconcerting let me tell you.

Anyway, after that we drove to the airport. Now, all these I-90's andI-290's was weird. Why can't highways in Buffalo just be simple. It was a bit confusing at times but we made it fine. After dropping the car off at the parking deport, we were whisked off to the airport. This time, airport customs was fine and no one made us feel like we were doing something wrong. The flight to Newark was a bit gross in that there was a lot of turbulence and the woman sitting beside Anita kept budding into our conversations. No one was impressed and no matter how much we tried to ignore her, she would not take the hint.

After that rocky ride we found our shuttle cab that would take us and others into Manhattan. Now, let me tell you, if you have never been driven in New York before, you are in for a real treat. Honestly, I spent like 95% of the ride gasping in horror. I was astonished by the way in which the driver drove! Pedestrians that were crossing in the street were perilously close to being hit. But, as I later learned, that is the culture in New York. No one cares: drivers nor the people on foot. Cars do not follow the lineson the roads and everyone follows their own rules. People sit on their horns as if it is a sport. People crossing the street neither look up nor down while doing so; they follow their own lines. I am surprised that I did not see an accident while there.

After finally checking into our hotel, we were a bit tired but said screw being tired and immediately headed out. After heading into the cool and slightly scary subway, we jumped the 1 train to Times Square. Now, I have tell ya, I love, love Times Square. When I saw the electric billboards, a smile almost split my face. I just couldn't believe I was in New York. I was also marveled at the crowd. There was so much people. Crazy amounts of people. I actually thrive in large crowds so this was entertainment at it's best for me. After snapping a million pics and smiling like a fool, we walked all over the place and settled on a bistro off 5th ave for lunch. I had a Panini for the first time. Then we headed out to shop! Anita had a field day. I promised myself that I would not shop on this trip. I was there to site see and not spend money on clothing etc., only on eats.

After much shopping and picture taking, we landed at a great sushi place on 8th and Broadway for dinner. Great food, great company and great atmosphere. What else could a person ask for. However, after 8hrs of travel and 6hrs of shopping, we were tired. We hopped on the train bound for uptown and immediately crashed at the hotel. Phew, what a day.

Saturday began early. Anita and I had discussed the night before that we would sleep in until like 9 and then head out Saturday morning. That did not happen. We were both up at 6:30! What the hell is that? I guess we were too excited about being in such a fast-paced city to spend our time sleeping. Boring. We were up, showered and out by 8:30 or so. After purchasing a day pass on the Metro, we were off. Today we took the A train down to Wall Street. After eating a quick but very filling breakfast on some small street in the Wall Street district, we headed out. We first hit Battery Park where we had planned on taking a ferry to Liberty Island. Ah, after assessing a line that would result in a minimum 3hr wait, I took a picture of Lady Liberty from afar and headed out on more exciting adventures. There was no way I wanted to spend my morning in some line. Whatever!

Next was walking Wall Street. I was really impressed. I love money so being around this place, set my blood a-runnin'. We finally made it to the location of where the Twin Towers used to stand. Even before I was told by Anita where it was, I felt that we were close. While walking up to the spot, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up and cold bumps covered my body. There is just something there. The souls of the thousands that died still linger there. The feeling was surreal. After reading the displays (they have the events leading up to the horrible tragedy that day on mounted on boards on a gate in front of ground zero)I was left thoroughly depressed and sad. I kept looking around and I just could not fathom the hatred one must have in their hearts to inflict so much pain. After a while, I had to get out of there. I was feeling way too much--nothing good. Even though it was depressing, I am grateful to see the progression of the new tower and that yes indeed,the city is on the mend.

We then took the subway into Soho. Now, that was an experience. Soho reminded me very much of Toronto's Cabbagetown. Cabbagetown was a run-down community inhabited by squalors and "undesirables" until the'80's. The city decided to do a Cabbagetown reconstruction as part of a city project. 30 years later, you have to be rich, snobby and wear Birkenstocks in order to live in Cabbagetown. The story is similar to Soho. It is full of rich people who look bored half the time and can drop huge amounts of money like no one's business. I loved being inSoho. There was great art (not that I am into art but it was still fun), great culture and atmosphere.

After Soho, we headed to Rochafella Centre and then Central Park. Since we had such a huge breakfast, we decided to forgo lunch and replace it with healthy ice-cream. Lol. It had to be done. After about 3hrs in wonderous Central Park: I truly think that park is wonderful. You can jog, sit, take buggy rides, walk for hours, get lost, play baseball and other games in acres and acres of green; what is not to like. After we rested and drank in the wonder that was Central Park, we had our ice-cream lunch, then headed out for more shopping. We took the subwayto 76th and shopped for a few hours. It was great. Once again i stuck to my guns and did not buy any clothing.

Tonight we wanted to eat at a nice place so we headed to Times Square again. Once again, I was floored by the place. This time, the pedestrian traffic was so thick, that at one point, for about 30 seconds, we did not move. There was too much people so we were all at a stand-still. Hundreds of us at one corner. I loved it! We found a restaurant on a small obscure street off Times. There they were offering a starter, maincourse, dessert and coffee or tea for $25.00. What is not to like about that? The atmosphere was calming, relaxing and soothing. I had the house salad, chicken parmesan which was served with rotini in a red sauce andfor dessert, chose the chocolate ice-cream and tea.

After we were delightfully full and serene, we once again headed into the hustle and bustle of the city. We then took the B train uptown. After I took some more pics of T.S., we headed to our place, dropped off bags and headed to this great park behind out hotel. I have no idea what the parks name was but it was right beside water, across from New Jersey and was great for walking. We walked and chatted until dark. Then we headed to Starbucks (we had little choice since there is a Starbucks on every other corner-ew) and settled in with soothing cups of tea. Once again we had a great conversation. I don't think I spoke that much to one person in my life! We were there for almost 2hrs! We then headed back to our hotel as our shuttle cab was coming to retrieve us Sunday morning at 5:30am. Yes,part of the great flight & hotel deal we got, included leaving the city super early the last morning.

Walking back to the hotel, I reflected on my time in New York and only had positive great things to say and report on it. At no time did I feel unsafe or scared or threatened. Everyone is too busy and focused on their own personal missions. Even though the beep and blasts of horns were loud and intense, it was still great. If the opportunity ever arrived and I had good accommodations and a super paycheck, I would live in New York in a heart beat.

The next day things went really smooth. The flight was not full so we got to stretch out in our seats. We basically slept the entire way as there was no turbulence. Nice flight. Our drive back to Canadian soil was just as smooth. Our customs officer was severe but nice at the same time. She did her job and we were on our way.

Now, it is back to reality and life in general. I loved it and will return one day. I just have to see more of the world first. All in all,I LOVE NEW YORK!!!

Vegan mac and cheese for One + leftovers

2012-01-02T12:21:00.001-05:00

I have had a hankering for yummy, creamy and rich mac and cheese for days now. Now that the holidays are over and things are back to normal, so to speak, but before I went back to work I wanted to make this meal.

Quick and delicious is what I wanted and got. Mac and cheese is not usually healthy but without the use of dairy based ingredients, this was a shockingly better for you meal.

Instead of white, I used whole wheat noodles, non dairy milk and Daiya cheese. This recipe is for two servings (as I made enough for lunch tomorrow) but can easily be modified for a true single serving. Comfort for one, here we go.

The thing is I used to think anything whole wheat or whole grain was revolting. I remember the first time I had whole wheat pasta. It was not pretty. But, I decided that I would rather eat whole grain everything once I started to feel the effects. I had more energy and filled up quicker. Also, my um, bathroom experiences have been great. No problems, if you catch my drift. I do, once in a while, treat myself to white flour pasta but the more I stay away, the better I feel and the more I love eating this way. Also, I enjoy the great nutty flavor of whole grain pastas and rices.

Ingredients

-2 cups cooked pasta
-1 cup non dairy milk (I used soy but almond or rice would be fine also)
-1/2 cup daiya non dairy cheese (or any other non dairy cheese your prefer)
-1/2 tsp dijon mustard
-1/4 tsp onion powder
-1/8 tsp black pepper
-salt to taste

How to Prepare

Add all ingredients but for the pasta to a medium sauce pan on medium heat. Stir/whisk until cheese melts (about 3 minutes). Add pasta until all noodles are coated with the creamy sauce. Add salt to taste. Enjoy!

Lunch tomorrow.

A quick and satisfying meal whether it is for lunch or dinner. You will not be disappointed. Eat well, be single and happy.

Adios 2011 and welcome 2012

2011-12-28T20:50:00.004-05:00

We will be ushering 2011 out the door in a scant few days and I honestly cannot wait to say goodbye to it. Although there was happiness in 2011, I feel that the unpleasant overrode my general joy. There were more downs than up's and that is super unfortunate. Since the summer of 2011, I needed some sort of refresher and felt that the best way to start afresh was to roll into the new year on a positive note.

All over the blogosphere, people are revamping their blog topics or look or refocusing. Although I am fine with the way my blog is right now, I would not mind revamping and refreshing some areas in my life. Now that 2012 is upon us, I really don't feel like I want to set up a resolution list per se. I put incredible pressure on myself and if tasks are not completed by my drop dead dates, I often come down on myself pretty hard and this is something I am trying to combat. Instead of creating a resolution list for 2012, I am going to make a rough fun list of four things I would like to do for myself with no real pressure. I think I will update this quarterly right here on my blog. So, without anymore stalling here is my 'fun' list for 2012.

-Buy classic and "going out" pieces of clothing so I have a collection at the ready.
As a professional woman, my going out clothing is quite embarrassing. I love fashion but do not shop often. I am always drawn to the more casual side of fashion. I have the necessary jackets and dress pants for work (I am not a lover of skirts) but not much else. Every. Single. Time. I have to got to a function, whether for work or a social gathering, I always end up raiding my sisters closet (who is a certified fashionista) or making an emergency trip to the mall. To me, this is no way for a grown woman to live. Having that little black dress, some cute pumps, must have clutch, perfect black skinny pants, fancy tops and dresses should be part and parcel of a wardrobe. I always look on enviously at my sister who can whip up an outfit for a fancy outing in a split because she has beautiful clothing at the ready all the time. My goal is to collect pieces during the year so I don't have to make that mad dash to the mall just to go to my companies Christmas party.

-Finish decorating my apartment room by room.
This is not my home for life but neither is this town I moved to. Don't get me wrong. I am enjoying living in this new city. It is exciting and fun and the people are overall friendly but my ultimate goal is to move and live in Toronto. In the meantime, however, I think I will be here for a stint. While here, I really want to enjoy my space. Living alone is amazing for so many reasons but right now, I am excited about being able to decorate my space to my liking. No-one to please but me! So far, I am decorating each room lovingly and slowly. I have not made any impulse purchases and don't plan to. I will decorate each room with an eye on the present and the future.

-Try a new vegan meal monthly.
This can mean cooking the meal myself or enjoying something at a restaurant. The plant based restaurants are scant here but the ones availble are very close to my house. I live semi-downtown so the vegan restaurants located in this city are literally 10-15 minutes walking distance away from my apartment. When I am back home, Toronto is my vegan restaurant city of choice as the options are seemingly boundless. If I am cooking, I will choose a new recipe from the plethora of cookbooks I own and experiment monthly or whenever I want. This goal should not be too hard to fulfill as I love to cook.

-Read a book for pleasure a month.
I am an avid reader. I used to be a ferocious reader in the past but now life is too busy for that. This goal looks easy but in reality is challenging. Between work obligations, my schedule of activities and volunteering (in the works), finding time to get into a book can be difficult. But, I want to get back into it. I am part of a book club and am diligent with reading those books but I want to also read books of my own choosing just because I want to read it. Shockingly (or maybe not?) as a woman who has no desire to get married, I love a good romance novel.

See, I told you my list was fun. These goals I believe are attainable because there is no direct and urgent pressure on myself to complete something yesterday. My hope is to update how I am doing in the spring, summer, fall and winter or the closing of 2012 BUT I am making zero promises. I really want to take things a bit easier in my life next year as I have some personal things to handle and unnecessary problems is so not welcome. Looking the list makes me happy and full of hope. Not pressured and nervous. My other daily to-do lists do that just fine.

So, what are your goals for the new year? Anything huge and mounting or are you like me and going the less is more route?

Vegan eggless Nog for one

2011-12-21T17:44:00.000-05:00

One of the things that I love about being single and living alone is the ability to cook for one. Sometimes it can be challenging to reduce recipe amounts but overall, it is fun. I love to cook and prep meals and have been at it the last few weeks pretty hard core. In other words, get ready for some single serving recipes soon.

I bought this eggless nog last week and while it is pretty tasty alone, the addition of vanilla, fresh cinnamon and nutmeg take it over the top.

My friend Susy told me about SoNice Noel Nog and I am glad she did.

I didn't measure anything. Just added enough nog I wanted into my glass, grated in some nutmeg and cinnamon and then about a teaspoon of vanilla. Amazing!

2011 Christmas to-do list update

2011-12-20T18:24:00.001-05:00

I have been workin on my Chrismas to-do list and right now, I am done. I am just waiting for the big day now. I didn't get a few things done but at this point, I am not going to rush and stress about it like how I could have in the past. I have been running ragged between cities the last few weeks and just want to go home and spend time with my family. 1.5 days and counting!

Here is the list update

~~-purchase my presents for my 'Adopt a Teen' teen.~~ complete and done. I dropped off my gifts over the past weekend and can breathe a sigh of relief that this good deed is done.
-~~finish up presents for my friends children~~ all done and not a second too soon
-~~mail out local and overseas (German) Christmas cards~~ didn't get done this year. i might send out some spring cards instead. maybe.
-~~mail out gifts~~ i only had a few and shockingly, it was done late.
-~~choose my Christmas cookie recipes~~ i chose a recipe from the Skinny Bitch vegan cookbook but improvised on it and added orange flavorings and warm spices
-~~prep and freeze all my Christmas cookie dough~~ done
-~~take down fall decorations~~ done
-~~put up Christmas decorations~~ ah, sort of
-~~make a Christmas DVD~~ nope!
-~~make vegan egg'less'nog~~ yeppers. it was fantastic and I will post the recipe soon
-~~bake a pumpkin loaf for my family~~ didn't happen
-~~make a small batch of Christmas cookies for myself (I am not the biggest cookie fan at all so a few will be fine)~~ nah
-~~hand out cookies to coworkers (I have had my cookie tins for months now on the ready and the wait to be filled)~~ ok, well I did attempt this. i had my cookie dough ready to go, cut them up, popped them in the oven and while washing dishes (ugh, I miss having a dishwasher) I promptly burnt them to a crisp. Pissed!

Sunday Lunch

2011-12-18T14:05:00.001-05:00

Light, crisp and juicy. I know it is cold outside but these fresh fruits that I bought today were calling my name.

YUM!

Made for me. All for me! Living single rules!

26 Day workout challenge update - week 1

2011-12-15T18:55:00.000-05:00

Well, the first week and a bit has passed since I started and here are the results of my 26 day workout challenge so far.

December 5 - JM 30 day shred
December 6 - no work out
December 7 - Tao Bo
December 8 -nothing
December 9 - the 30 day shred
December 10 - walk
December 11 - nothing
December 12 - 30 day shred
December 13 - partial Tao Bo workout
December 14 - nothing

So far, I am doing just ok in this challenge. I do not feel I am as motivated as I should be and this has made for far too many 'nothing' days. I will have to ramp it up over the next few weeks if I want to feel good about this goal I set for myself. How are your challenges for the holidays coming along? I hope more success than I am having.

Fall decore for one & table painted

2011-12-13T20:10:00.001-05:00

This is the fall decorations that I created for my living room. Very basic and not even up anymore (I am a bit behind, no?) but it was pretty.

This was my fall decore on the table I painted out white. What we have here is a mini pumpkin and some gourds. I bought the squash at a apple patch when my family went apple picking months ago.

The table is ancient. It is a relic from my parents and was super ugly before in terms of color. I have always liked the design of the table though but not the color (it used to be a horrible dark brown). It was donated to my brother years ago and he had it in his basement collecting dust. His wife was only too happy for me to take it off their hands. I took the table because this is not my forever home and the plan is to spend as little as I can decorating my apartment. In comes this free table.

It's a little old but I really like it. I am pleased with my paint job (first time painting basically anything).

My painted table and passe fall decore.

I am reusing the pumpkin and gourds in my Christmas display.

Christmas -to-do

2011-12-08T07:34:00.000-05:00

ChristmasChristmas is quickly approaching and I am super excited. Christmas is one of my absolute favorite holidays as it is all about family and love. I always have such good thoughts and feelings at Christmastime and this year is no different. Last Christmas was very lovely and filled with family time but personally, I was not that much into my usual holiday cheer. As a result I neglected one of my self-appointed duties and neglected to make Christmas treats. This year, I am very much up for it and will be continuing some holiday traditions I have created for myself. And, in order to complete my duties, I created a master list of to-do's.

My list of essential Christmas things to do are:

-purchase my presents for my 'Adopt a Teen' teen.
-finish up presents for my friends children
-mail out local and overseas (German) Christmas cards
-mail out gifts
-choose my Christmas cookie recipes
-prep and freeze all my Christmas cookie dough
-take down fall decorations
-put up Christmas decorations
-make a Christmas DVD
-make vegan egg'less'nog
-bake a pumpkin loaf for my family
-make a small batch of Christmas cookies for myself (I am not the biggest cookie fan at all so a few will be fine)
-hand out cookies to coworkers (I have had my cookie tins for months now on the ready and the wait to be filled)

I feel like I have a billion lists going at the same time but this is a special time of year and my home projects will be semi pushed aside as Christmas is very important and takes center stage for me. Do you have your list all done and at the ready for this holiday season?

December 26 day workout challenge

2011-12-05T17:32:00.002-05:00

For a brief period in my life I used to workout like a fiend. Well, not really but I did enjoy it when I threw myself into it. When I was preparing for Germany, my workouts were a huge priority in my life. I wanted to look good and be as toned and trim as possible and I had relative success. After all the German hubbub settled down and I got back into the swing of my life here, working out shockingly continued. Then it stopped.

The beginning of this year was not the best for me. I had (and still do) a lot of emotional issues to deal with and working out fell to the wayside. A lot of people say to work out as it would help with stress. In theory it is all lovely and great but I was not in the spirit. I could have cared less about setting up a regular routine when my life was falling apart in front of me and I had no control. It might seem like a weak excuse but unless you are going through what I was, it is best not to judge. In any case, the last few months I have been feeling better and moving on. Things are still tough but I am dealing with it. And, I decided to give myself a challenge and something to redirect my thoughts for the next little while. That is why I thought a December challenge would be good.

Out of the blue and quite randomly, I committed to a personal challenge for the remaining days of December. My plan is to follow a semi-workout plan for the remaining 26 days of 2011 and end it right. 2011 roared in horribly for me. At times, I was so low that I had to put on a fake front to my friends as to not show my true feelings. I was so out and down that my health was being affected (since 2010 actually) but I refused to open up. I am a 'deal with it myself' type of person and prefer to be this way most of the time. I have amazing friends but when things concern my family or myself I rarely give up the goods. It is too difficult for me to open up and let it all out. So, when I opened my eyes January 1, 2011, all I wanted to do was cry and cry I did.

Now that I am saying goodbye and good riddance to 2011 and really looking forward to 2012, I want to bounce this year out on a good note. I want to feel strong (and not a crying babbling girl anymore) and know I can do something good for myself. And, one of the ways I can do this is to work on my fitness. Thereby, the next 26 days will be spent sweating it up in some form or fashion.

I prefer fast walking to running and work out dvd's to gyms so that is what I will be doing. I will be using my Jillian Michaels' collection along with my P90X, TurboFire, Tao Bo, The Firm dvd's and my own two feet (walking) to achieve this goal. In order to keep myself motivated, I will share my weekly results here for all to see. I will start off tonight with I think a bit of Jillian Michaels. Not too sure as of yet but I will be using the weekly workout calendar my friend L created. You should check out her website on fitness. She is a certified fitness instructor who is nuts about working out. Her website is chock-a-block full of work out tips and inspiration. She is good!

Ok, I am off to...work out! Yes, get my sweat on. Have a lovely night and chat with you again later this week.

Dinner & breakfast time apple jack smoothie

2011-12-04T20:26:00.000-05:00

From the amount of smoothies I make, it seems that I have a bit of an obsession.
Here are some of the ones I have posted here so far:
fruit smoothie
cinnamon bun smoothie
mango lassi

I have to admit, I do make smoothies very often but I can't help it. They are smooth and creamy and packed with healthy goodness.

In this case, again, I used Lindsay from Happy Herbivore's Apple Jack Smoothie recipe. (I love her recipes because they are have no added fat, vegan and taste amazing!)Um, this smoothie was great. I try to use kale or spinach in all of them so they are jammed packed with phytonutrients, minerals and vitamins. I happen to like green smoothies over any other smoothie as they are more filling and super healthy.

I made this smoothie for dinner as I had a late lunch and was not in the mood for food so this was perfect. As I was at it, I doubled this recipe and made enough for breakfast. I gotta tell you, I was this close to drinking them both for dinner. This close.

I mean, just look at this picture! Isn't it so pretty?

I can tell you, it is damn tasy and will be a go-to recipe for me from now on for sure.

BEGINNING

MIDDLE

END! Breakfast and dinner

Here is the link for the recipe. Enjoy!

Off to the movies solo

2011-11-30T17:53:00.000-05:00

I have spoken a number of times in passing on this blog about my love of going to the movies solo. As from the main theme of this blog, you will know that being as independent as possible is a major goal for me. And, one thing I hate and rarely tolerate is waiting on other people. Now, in certain areas of life, waiting on others is part and parcel of existing and unavoidable. I am talking about work projects or waiting for family or friends in certain situations. I am extremely impatient and I find I have to bite my tongue a lot because once I get an idea in my head I want to do it and now! No waiting. This is a good trait to have but it is also seen as a flaw. Flaw or not, this is me and I have no desire to change it.

This lack of willingness to wait for others has really inspired this single lifestyle of mine. I won't wait for some man (who might not even exist) to come rescue me so I can start my life. I often hear such distressing remarks from women and I find it almost sad and extremely hard to stomach. Why do you need to wait for man to start your life? Really? I don't buy it. Putting men aside, I personally refuse to sit on the sidelines and wait for someone to join me to do fun things in life and that includes friends or man and even family members. It is funny but I can't wrap my head around people who gasp when I tell them I did something alone such as go to the movies. My coworker actually looked at me in horror as I recounted my evening where I headed off to the bookstore and then went to see a movie all by myself. After her shock passed, she sat looking at me and then finally, reluctantly, said, "I wish I had the courage to do that."

Courage is a strong word for me and something I don't really take lightly in my life. I assume I guess I could be called courageous for going to go see a and sitting alone in a cinema packed with teams of people all sitting happily together. For me though, I wouldn't call that courageous. I would say I had the desire. I had a wonderful night open in front of me to do as I pleased and one thing I wanted was to sit my butt down in a theatre and see a movie. So, I made it happen.

I will admit that at first, I was a bit hesitant. I haven't seen a movie solo in a very long time (I just happen to go with other interested people in the last year or so) and a part of me was a bit trepidatious. I HATED this feeling as I consider myself a pretty independent woman who is not afraid to venture into the unknown alone. So why did I feel hesitant last night? I can't tell you specifically why I had these feelings but despite them, I bought my ticket and grew very excited at the prospect of sitting down for two blissfully hours for me time. Once I got that ticket in my hands, all nerves fled and I felt amazing. This was me! I was born to be a solo venturer out in the world representing my solo-lifestyle-living brothers and sisters in style.

After sitting down in a nice new theatre seat (fresh new building, still had that new smell), I relished in my own company. There was no need to make conversation with someone else. I had no one to please but myself and it felt good. During funny parts of the movie, I laughed out loud with everyone else. During the drama filled scenes, I watched on with rapt attention with a huge grin on my face. Being on my own feels right and complete to me.

I encourage everyone to do something they consider daring or scary alone at least once. Shockingly, you will walk away feeling stronger and maybe a bit smug that you conquered something other people cower at. Yes, even something as simple as going to see a movie alone. I encourage everyone, singles and people coupled off, to go outside the box and do that one thing that sends terror shuddering through your body. Trust me, at the end of the day, it will be rewarding and freeing.

Single girl living single

2011-11-24T20:37:00.000-05:00

I thought I would do a quick update on how I was faring thus far in my apartment as I touched on it slightly in a previous post and left it at that. Well, let me tell you friends, I am loving it so far.

I am not going to lie and say it was all good from the start. Actually, in the beginning, I was often sad and annoyed and slightly scared. As I said, I am used to people around me. This is the first time I have lived alone and there was an adjustment period I had to hurtle over. The last month and a half have seen me busy and happily so. Staying still for too long is not really my scene so I chose to do instead of not.

I have a long list of decorations for my place, have groups to meet, after work obligations to attend to and a slew of family and friends back home to keep up with. I am feeling pretty good these days and got over the shock of living alone by taking action. Instead of moping around (which is so easy to do), I kept busy and enjoyed the time alone. I have always been an independent person and craved a space of my own but never made it happen. Now that I am my own space, it is pretty darned fun.

Making my own meals, cleaning my own place, choosing to leave the dishes in the sink if I want to, walking around partially nude (I am only nude-nude before and after I shower), changing the temperature guage for my needs, watching whatever I want on tv, not having the television on at all, enjoying crafts, taking walks around my neighborhood, carefully looking for and selecting the perfect pieces to make my apartment my home, going to bed earlier are just some of the positives so far. I am really liking this having my own place thing.

It is funny but when I first started to shop for my place it was difficult for me to make decisions on what I wanted. In the past I would always accompany someone else who had to decorate their home. I bought a few things here and there but I never took the time or care to select pieces thinking of the longevity of the item or how it would fit in my space. I had no real space to put anything. After my sister and I sold our home, I put all desire of decorating or purchasing on the back burner. Now that I have a place to work with, it took a bit of effort on my part to loosen up and realize that I was not looking for something for someone elses home or a piece for the future. I have to pick things for me, now. I was enlightened while at HomeSense, feeling grouchy as I walked around. I didn't know what to choose or even why I was there. I was all of a sudden hit with the realization that I needed to shop to fill my space with things I liked for me! It was nice.

Right now, things are pretty good living on my own. I feel that I can almost relate to Eleanore and her post on living alone. Her commentors were priceless and the general consensus is that people who are spinstersters-for-life love living alone and hate or find it uncomfortable when people stay over too long. I don't think I am at that stage but at the rate that I like living alone so far, I can imagine it will just be a matter of time. I am singulary happy living alone. It is very freeing and not even remotely lonely as I envisioned it would be.

Being dedicated to a life without a partner has only been solidified moving out. I don't think I would like to share a space of mine with children or a man. Just the thought of that actually makes me sweat. I like having a schedule based on my needs and wants (I mean, I get nervous deviating from my own plans as it is) and have zero desire to accomodate others. I only hope that things will go up from here.

As an aside, I realize that buying a condo will be the right thing for me. In comparing my townhouse and current apartment, I think I am liking the smallness of the space. Having multiple floors never did appeal to me (being drawn to bungalows even as a child), I believe that a one floor condo would do me just lovely when I do buy. A dishwasher would be an absolute must though. I HATE washing dishes.

Well, I am off to enjoy my space by painting another table I have started. Oh, I promise pictures next week as I am finally getting my camera back this weekend. Have a good night.

Time off

2011-11-22T18:49:00.001-05:00

It's so funny how guilty and nervous I feel taking a night off and doing nothing. Today I made a list of things to do this evening including making dinner, painting, working out, making some oatmeal breakfasts and starting a wreath. Well, once I got home, things changed.

I decided indeed to make dinner and instead of everything else, focus on relaxing. The last few days have been a bit trying to say the least and I have been going and going which is good. I like keeping busy and involved. To me, it is fun having too much to do at times. But on occassion, I don't feel like it.

Dinner the last few days have consisted of cereal and almond milk. Breakfasts have been the same. Lunch did not really happen other than yesterday so I really wanted something good for dinner. I decided to make creamy vegan broccoli and rice casserole from Fatfree Vegan as soon as I saw the recipe today. It is replete with vitamins and minerals as it is packed with vegetables, brown rice and low fat tahina sauce. It is cooked and waiting for me to eat. I cannot wait.

It is funny though how I feel I have to justify, to myself, taking the night off instead of following my intended plan. While making dinner I was mulling over my decision to do nothing tonight. I had to actually convince myself to do this. As I stood washing my dishes, I had an internal battle of wills. Complete the list or relax? Relax or complete the list? It is so weird as I am an advocate for advising my friends to relax when they overdo it but I rarely take my own advise.

When I finally made the decision to chill, a few things happened almost immediately which I caught myself doing but could not stop. I cringed and felt incredibly guitly. Even as I write this post, I still feel shame in wanting to do nothing for one evening.

I wonder if there is a way to get over feelings of guilty when doing the right thing for oneself? Or at least, what I hope is the right thing.

Do you ever feel embarrassed or guilty for taking a night off?

This week's to-do list

2011-11-15T18:46:00.001-05:00

In order to combat the blahs, I have taken charge of things in my life and decided to get busy! For me, fall is a great season yet I am not a fan of the dark evenings. I feel emotionally and spiritually better in brighter conditions and being subjected to dark at 5pm is not my idea of fun. Last week I fretted about being bored and not having much of a social life here. I was told I need to kinder to myself (this is something I know but have a really hard time embracing) and realize I have only been in this new city less than two months. Rationally I realize this but emotionally, things were not settling well with me. I needed to find purpose so after my pity party (I have a lot of those) I jumped on the action bandwagon and started getting things done. So far, I have a few social engagements planned and a lot of projects in the works to make my apartment pretty.

A lot of people say they don't pump money into a temporary living space such as an apartment and I semi-agree. I mean, I have no desire or plans to take down walls or add crown moldings or anything like that but I intend on living in a nice space nontheless. My mood is reflective on my surroundings and if it is not soothing or enviting or pleasing, I get antsy and need escape. I guess that is overall human nature. Being a perpetual single girl, I have to find ways to keep myself happy and right now that means creating a lovely living space. Trust me when I say that my life is full right now but sometimes I like to pile things up just a bit more. That is why I took on some projects for improving my home namely focusing on painting this week.

These painting projects include: painting a mini side table white, painting my living room side table white and finally (for now) painting my newish kitchen stand red! Yes, red!

Being single and free means that I am the master of my home. I choose what I want in terms of decorating (I have no-one else to consult or to pass colors by)and I have decided that the overall feel will be very soft and feminine. I have a color pallet in mind but I have to gather some fabric samples before I can actually reveal anything (oh yeah, and the fact that my sister has my camera!) on this blog. I am super excited to start. This girl is trying to be self-sufficient in all avenues of her life and this includes taking control of my home as well. And, as is my desire with this blog, I hope to show people out there that being single is not a death sentence, it is a gift. One where we need to embrace life and tackle as much as we can.

And, in that vain, I am off now to start my projects. First off, scuffing the mini & side tables and adding the first coat of paint. I really wanted to do a before and after reveal of the projects I am starting tonight but alas, I cannot. Ok, I am off. Oh yes, this is the first time I am painting anything so wish me luck!

Making friends in a new place

2011-11-09T21:19:00.001-05:00

I'm having a bit of a problem right now. Since I moved I have made one friend in this city (aside from my work friends-which is not really a good idea when you see people for 7.5hrs a day) and it is driving me nuts! I can be a shy but outgoing person at the same time so this not having a good social circle in my new city is not pleasant. I am okay being alone but too much of a good thing sometimes is a bad thing.

This post is to really ask for advise. Any tips on how to make new friends as an adult in a new city? I know a few of you are expats or have moved to other cities so any recommendations would be amazing.

Okay, gotta run. I hope to have some meaningful posts in the near future.

Idiot-Proof Lentils = Best meal ever!!

2011-11-03T18:53:00.000-04:00

I still don't have my camera (sigh) so I can't show you the epic meal I just had. My dinner consisted of lentils cooked in cocunut cream on a bed of jasmine rice which was inspired by the great video from the Tofu Guru.

Guys, this was out of control delicious. I knew it was going to be amazing when I casually tasted the lentils, for doneness, while cooking. I paused when I had that small taste and knew I had a winner.

Here is the recipe. Tofu Guru is really funny so this recipe is not only delicious but it is delivered in a humorous manner.

I reduced the recipe for two single servings. I can't wait for dinner tomorrow night!

I used 1/2 cup lentils and a small can of cocunut cream instead of the full can as instructed in the recipe but feel free to cook the full amount. Trust me, the left overs will not last long. Yum!

Where I have been and what I am doing....

2011-10-27T18:08:00.004-04:00

Since moving, I have been busy getting myself adjusted in my new place and finding out more about my new city. The adventure has just begun and so far, I am enjoying myself. I am still not reunited with my camera so I haven't been able to take any pictures of my new digs or neighborhood or recipes as of yet. However, I am not letting anything intimidate me. I have been out and about, all by lonesome (which I prefer most times) exploring my city and generally living the single and free lifestyle I so crave. So far, have:

-made a single serving brownie (this was just okay as I found the cake too chocolately. Yeah, I am not a huge chocoholic)
-made a single serving apple crumble (inspired by Ricki's Autumn fruit crumble recipe.
-discovered a quicker route to get to work than jumping on the inter-city highway in the mornings.
-set my apartment to rights. It is starting to feel like my place now. Next is working on decorating each room.
-had a nice conversation with my neighbor...no not the hot Italian.
-baked Happy Herbivores fat-free pumpkin bread which was absolutely delicious
-put together a fall cornacopia which is on display in my living room
-had a calm and relaxing evening with candle light providing tranquil ambiance
-found a few second hand bookstores (yes!)
-had dinner at Cafe Pyrus (apparently the best vegan cafe in this city) and had an amazing meal
-walked around a bit of downtown and found some interesting places to check out
-started working out again (which my muscles thanked me by tingling and giving me boundless energy the next day)
-walked around my neigborhood and approved of the gorgeous old houses and overall close-knit community feeling
-searched for wallpaper for a few projects in my apartment (came up short however)
-stocked my cupboards (bur realized that I need a lot more than I currenly have in order to make meals)

I am heading home this weekend to visit the family and friends. I am realizing I will have to put in more work to ensure I keep my friends at home close while living here. It can be a bit of a challenge sometimes but I have amazing friends so all is good. Also, on the list this weekend is working at the part time job and also making a run to bulk barn, whole foods and the grocery store. After lookng at my pantry and my cookbooks and trying to decide what to eat on some nights, I realize that I have to stock up on my staples in order to whip up whatever meal I like whenever I like. Gosh, it takes a lot to really get your house in order.

I am out of here and will check in next week after I have my camera and I can start showing you some my single-girl apartment (it is shockingly underwhelming right now), some pics of my city and the recipes I create for one. Until then, have a great weekend all.

Travel plans for 2012

2011-10-21T19:16:00.003-04:00

So, I know I promised to update a few things I had outstanding a few weeks ago. I kind of forgot to post them as my mind was bogged down with things such as moving and my sisters wedding. However, now that I am settled in my new place and feeling comfortable (sort of) in my new city, I can finally start the whole process of living again.

Do you even feel so busy or overwhelmed that the simple act of 'living' totally eludes you? Well, I did feel out of sorts for a while but now I am back! Well, I hope. On that note, I am feeling restless, again. It was funny because last week, out of nowhere while driving home, my mind wandered to travel. I felt immediate sadness and longing. All I wanted to do at that very moment was board a plane to parts unknown and spend my days wandering a new local. Although I can't do that right now, I am excited for December, 2012.

I know that the end of 2012 is a long way off (we aren't even out of 2011 yet!) but seriously, it will be here in the blink of an eye and before I know it, I will be off to gorgeous Europe again! That's right, I am off to visit my beloved Europe next year with Germany (my first love) thrown in for good effort. My style of travel is usually to go alone and this time it will be no different. I have booked a 10 day cruise with a local women's travel group to sail aong the main Danub canal moving from The Czec Rep. and ending in Austria next year. I have been to Austria and Germany in the past but the locations within these countries we will be visiting are new to me

I know the time of year might seem odd. Canadian winters are frigid. Who goes to other cold destinations for vacation in the middle of winter? Well, me of course. Although it will be freezing when I leave Pearson Airport, the temperatures in Czec Rep, Germany and Austria are supposedly milder. This is the information I was given so I am going to go with that.

Now, I am not a cold weather lover and don't participate in winter activities much at home. So, what could possibly have lured me to leave my cold Canadian home the beginning of December to embark into semi-cold Europe? Well, Christmas markets of course! I was told by every single one of my German and Swiss friends (I work for a Germany/Swiss company) that I need to return to Germany just to visit the markets. Christkindlesmarkts in Germany (and I assume countries in Europe) are huge. When I was in Germany, while at lunch one day, my friend Tobias looked me dead in the eye, with everyone else around us nodding their heads in agreement, and told me that I had to make it my mission to come back for the Christkindlesmarkts.

So, on the good advise of my friends, I am off next year. I originally booked this trip for December 2012 because I thought a few things professionally would be different. It was all about the timing. However, life sometimes has a way of taking over. I am now living in a new city, in a different role and living alone. This all happened in under three months. As my trip was already booked for so far off, it just made financial sense to leave it as is. The anticipation is mounting and I cannot wait to board that flight bound for Europe. My one real problem right now is airline. I mean, after coming off the dynamic service of flying with Luftansa (on the company dime), I don't know if I can or want to downgrade. At the end of the day cash flow will decide but really, I want to do everything in my power to fly with LF again.

On top of Europe (Germany!!!!), I am currently in the midst of planning another small trip with a friend of mine to San Fransisco. A colleague of ours just moved there and once she is settled, she will be accepting guests! So, I will be looking forward to heading that way in a few short months (I hope). This is a trip I am extremely excited about as a friend of mine just came back from a stay there a few months ago and his reports were all positive.

There you have it. This single girls future travel plans. One of my philosophies in life is to not wait on others. If I had to wait for another person to accompany for basically much in life, I would be one very bored girl. Planning Europe was as easy as breathing. Well, the only thing that made me stutter in my breathe was the single-supplement but right now, I won't even go there.

Come on, it just can't be me! Do you have any far-off booked vacations coming up?

Week two & living alone

2011-10-20T19:15:00.000-04:00

Things are finally starting to settle down a bit here at Singularly Happy-ville. I am happily ensconsed in my new home and enjoying it. The first few nights took a bit of adjusting but now, I am liking it big time. It was especially hard to come home to a quiet home after being surrounded by others all of my life. I mean, after moving out of my parents house to attend university, I lived with roommates all undergraduate years. Then I lived with a roommate after university and started "real" life only to move in with relatives briefly. After that was back home to my parents and then with my sister when we bought our house together. This is truly the first time I have ever lived alone and it is not half bad.

Thus far, I have been able to set up my apartment, have banged out a few meals using my trusty cook books (no pictures because I have not yet been reunited with my camera), have explored my new city in a bit more depth, met my other new neighbor (not the hot Italian, who I did see yesterday morning as he waved to me as I left for work. Swoon. He is rather cute. In this case I am referring to my more matronly neighbor who is very nice so far) and working my butt off.

With my apartment, things are all set to rights. It still has an air of unfinished-peasant-occupying-the-space but that will change in good time. My to-do list for my apartment is growing daily and is seemingly never ending. On one hand all my projects promise hours of blissful fun (or so I hope) but the sheer size of it makes me wary. On said list includes:

LIVING ROOM:
-paint side table creamy white
-set up desk area-get wood and supplies for bulletin board
-create bulletin board
-arrange for couch to be delivered
-buy a side table for bedroom
-buy material for couch pillows
-sew 4 pillows for couch
-hang mirror in living room
-buy or create pictures in main living room
-have mom sew main room curtains
-buy wallpaper for back of bookshelf
-install wallpaper on the back of bookshelf
-buy 2 more pieces for bookshelf
-cover books for bookshelf & display

ROOM:
-buy a sewing desk

KITCHEN:
-buy paint and top for kitchen shelf
-set up microwave on kitchen shelf
-label grain and flour jars
-hang curtains in kitchen

It might not seem like a lot in the grand scheme of things but to me, this list is exhausting. My plan is to action them my weekends off and some nights after work as to keep the projects fun and not tedious.

That's all I have for now. I am just trying to keep my head about water at this point. I am not drowning and but sometimes, things feel a bit overwhelming. I have to say though that living on my own has really inspired me to get buy a place. I am still going to get that condo in the sky but now that I am outside of my ideal city (my goal is to live in Toronto), this might have to wait. I say might in that I am thinking that if I decide to stay in this city for a while, I will buy here and then move in a few years. That is my hope at least. Right now though, I am adjusting and living the true single life in smallish town Ontario and actually, enjoying it!

First night in my new pad!

2011-10-12T19:57:00.000-04:00

Hi all. I am in my apartment and so far, so good. I am not as nervous as I thought I would have been. I came home, did a brief work out, ate dinner and am now blogging and watching The Offiice.

I will be taking pictures of my apartment soon but right now my camera is in Puerto Rico with my sister and her husband honeymooning so that will have to wait.

Ok, I'm off. I'm very tired as I have been extremely busy at work and the super early morning commutes have taken a toll.

Updates to follow.