THE GOODS BLOG: Erika's Precious Little Life ~ December Edition

Happy December!! I'm very excited that the holiday season is in full swing and there are so many exciting activities to partake in... On the other hand, I feel a near-constant self-imposed overwhelm at the amount of work that needs to be accomplished in order for everything to be "perfect." This is entirely a me problem and something that I'm constantly working on to achieve a better balance. I do think that I'm better at not burning myself out compared to what I used to be like. I'm wishing you all a stress-free month followed by a truly lovely and memorable Christmastime!! November was actually fairly low-key, which was great. This allowed for a bit of quiet time before everything really starts to pick up. The most exciting thing that happened all month is that Archie and I both fit into a giant jacket. (Ha ha, just kidding.)

We put up our Christmas tree and decorated in the middle of the month. It's a day that I really enjoy. It always starts with going out for our first festive drinks of the year, putting up the tree and decorating the house, going out for Festive Specials at Swiss Chalet for dinner, and then curling up on the couch (in the coziest cuddle pile) to watch the movie Elf. I love it!

Archie went to the Kids Christmas Shoppe at the Old Strathcona Antique Mall, which is a really adorable event that we attend every year. You give your kid some cash and they get assigned a grandma who helps them shop for and wrap their Christmas presents! We always love getting to see what Archie has picked out for us!

Archie also had his visit with Santa Claus at West Edmonton Mall! This year he asked for the LEGO Delivery Truck set.

Tim and I attended a five course Lakeside Farmstead Farm to Fork Dinner which was a part of the Edmonton Christmas Market. This was such a cool experience! We love Lakeside Farmstead and have been out to their farm a few times. Not only do they produce the most incredible Alberta beef, but they are also the best cheese producer in the province in my opinion. (Everyone must try their Clothbound Cheddar!!) It was so awesome to attend a dinner where the chef used all of their products to create the food!

And finally, I stopped by at the Winter Whyte Light Up (which I love) even though I had to go by myself because Tim and Archie were away for the weekend at Beaver Camp. I'm glad that I didn't miss it!

The friend hangs were great as always! I loved having a double date night with Mary (and the husbands) at Bernadette's, a high-end Indigenous restaurant. It's my favourite new restaurant of the year for sure!

Susan has moved back to Edmonton!!! (Because everyone moves back to Edmonton.) It was great to get to see her and I look forward to many more fun times together!

And Carrie was in town from Vancouver and spent a weekend over at my place! I'm always so happy when I get to spend quality time with her.

I have had some really positive developments in my menopause journey this month! Seeing the Nurse Practitioner at my Naturopathy clinic has been the absolute best choice that I have made so far! Far better than any of the two gynecologists that I have wasted my time seeing. As suspected, she has been able to offer me a much more personalized and specific bioidentical hormone therapy plan. She has switched me (back) to Estrogel for my estrogen and a separate progesterone pill. I am finally feeling really good and properly cared for at long last! What a major relief!! She (like everyone else) has also confirmed that I am in menopause. Not "approaching menopause" or "peri-menopause." Just full-blown menopause. I'm there, you guys. My Christmas shopping is pretty much finished and I can't believe that Christmas is only three weeks away. Whoa. I'm buckling up for a busy month ahead!

Life with Archie: Archie also had a fairly low-key month which is definitely good from time to time.

He took part in another Kids Workshop at Home Depot and built a Pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe Game. (Look at all of the pins on his apron now from previous builds!)

Archie finished his round of Bigger Beats piano lessons and really enjoyed it. He says that piano is his favourite instrument that he has tried and that he would like to continue learning it.

THE SNOW ARRIVED!

Archie also lost another tooth and spent a weekend at Beaver Camp. So things have been pretty decent for that kid! Am I ready for December?! Half yes and half no!?! Tim, Archie, and I are going to be participating in the Santa Shuffle Fun Run which was organized by Mary and we're doing it as a big group. The run is 5k and I am definitely still not a runner. I'm just going to do my best! I'm excited for our annual visit to the Edmonton Christmas Market, one of our favourite holiday events of the year. BioWare's Holiday Party is called "Mystic Woods Masquerade" this year and it's always our biggest event! I bought a perfect dress for the theme and I can't wait to put the entire look together! It's going to be the most fun night! Of course I always look forward to our annual Christmas Girls Night and this year we are having dinner at La Ronde, Edmonton's revolving restaurant. So that should be a ton of fun! This year we're going to attend IKEA's Swedish Christmas Julbord Buffet. I've had my eye on this event for the past few years but have never gotten tickets in time. This year we're finally trying it! Archie has got his Winter Concert at school, which will be so wonderful to see. Like every year, we'll be celebrating an early Christmas at home in Edmonton with Santa coming to visit our house. We always enjoy our own special family traditions. We'll also be visiting Luminaria at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden which has returned this year! AND THEN WE'RE OFF!! We arrive in London on December 23rd and we'll be spending actual Christmas with Tim's family. It'll be great to have all of the cousins together for a bunch of holiday fun! We'll be continuing to Regina on December 27th and spending New Year's with my family. As always, I look forward to spending a cozy holiday time with them all. I hope that I'll also get to see whoever of you Regina ladies are around in town as well! We return home to Edmonton on January 3rd. It's a big, busy month but it's also the best! As the years go by, I feel so fortunate that you ladies are still here. People come and go. Time, distance, and circumstances evolve and change. Not a single one of us is the exact same person that we were 10, 20, or 30 years ago. This is why I'm even more grateful that we're still doing this together. We have grown along side and supported each other - a gift that I do not take lightly. You know and see me, for all of my annoying quirks, and you love me just the same. And I you. We have chosen each other in this life and it's a pretty big miracle, when you think about it. Thank you for being my people. <3