2020 Thoughts, Resolutions, Re-caps, Bests

It’s that time! My annual blog of thoughts regarding the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021! This past year was challenging in many ways for everyone but I do hope that there was some quiet beauty to be found as well.

BEST ALBUM: Imploding the Mirage - The Killers

(Released: August 21, 2020)

Honourable mentions (in order of release) go to:

Between You and Me - San Cisco (Released: September 4, 2020)

Cold This Christmas - Meaghan Smith (Released: October 2, 2020)

BEST MOVIE: Palm Springs

(Released: July 10, 2020)

Honourable mentions (in order of release) go to:

An American Pickle (Released: August 6, 2020)

The Donut King (Released: August 24, 2020) Promising Young Woman (Released: December 25, 2020)

Soul (Released: December 25, 2020)

BEST (new to me) TORONTO/EDMONTON RESTAURANT THAT I TRIED: Biera

(Amazing creative small plates and house-brewed beer ~ 9570 76th Avenue)

Honourable mentions (in alphabetical order) go to:

Allwyn’s Bakery (The best jerk chicken in Canada ~ 81 Underhill Drive) Buca Osteria & Enoteca (Absolutely wonderful rustic Italian fare ~ 604 King Street West)

Farrow (Incredible sandwiches ~ 8422 109th Street)

Rose's Vietnamese Sandwiches (The best bánh mì sandwiches in Canada ~ 601 Gerrard Street East)

BOOKS THAT I READ IN 2020:

How to Raise a Wild Child by Scott D. Sampson

Text Me When You Get Home by Kayleen Schaefer

Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

My favourite book of the year!

I hope that if you give any of my picks a try that you'll love them as much as I do!!

IN 2020 I TRAVELED TO THESE PLACES:

London, Ontario X 3 Edmonton, Alberta Muskoka, Ontario X 2 Jasper, Alberta X 2 Pine Lake, Alberta Regina, Saskatchewan

Traveling was definitely not the same in 2020 but our grand return to Jasper, Alberta was incredibly special for us.

IN 2020 I SAW THESE BANDS PLAY LIVE:

Ben Lee

Believe it or not, I actually went to ONE concert in 2020 before the lockdown happened!

WEDDINGS THAT WE ATTENDED IN 2020:

None!

FAMILY/FRIENDS WHO HAD BABIES IN 2020:

Emily & Matt had Penelope on May 5, 2020!

Kristen & Dallas had Everyn on November 26, 2020!

And of course... RESOLUTIONS... First let's see how I did with my 2020 resolutions:

~ Make more time for nature and being outdoors.

~ Prioritize and value the balance that I require (IE: yoga).

~ Fix/tidy/organize the basement.

~ Drink more water! 2.2L per day!

~ Find balance in life while requiring less.

Amazingly enough, this might have been the first year ever that every single one of these items were successful. And I think that this was due to the pandemic. Nature became our refuge. I began an at-home yoga practice for the first time. I do drink 2.2L of water each and every day. And I think that everyone had to do what they could with less in 2020 (in varying senses). It wasn't perfect but it all came pretty damn close. We solved the basement situation by moving away from that house and starting from scratch with a tidied and organized basement in a new house!

This leads me to... 2021 RESOLUTIONS/GOALS:

~ Settle into our new Edmonton life (even more) and truly make it home.

~ Get out of debt finally and start enjoying some financial freedom.

~ Leave the country again? Please?? Maybe???

~ Get a Covid-19 vaccine!

~ Regain the balance and freedom that allows me to feel like the best version of myself.

I'm wishing everyone a wonderful 2021 and a fresh start in so many ways! Don't dream it, be it!