January 3-5: what to do/see/eat/drink this weekend in toronto

It has been super cold here in Toronto the past few days so leaving the house has seemed less and less appealing. However, tomorrow is going to be a balmy -1 and Sunday a nice 0 so maybe there is hope to come out of hibernation this weekend. Here's a few things happening in the city to lure you out of your warm bed/Netflix marathon. 

Do: Saturday nights at Harbourfront Centre is DJ Skate Nights. Starting at 8pm and going until 11pm, tomorrow night, the Brazilian-style Uma Nota crew will be performing with DJ Firecracker and General Eclectic. Best of all, the DJ Skate Nights are free, so lace up your skates and put on your fuzziest winter gear and enjoy a party on the ice. 

See: Until January 12th, The Musical of Musicals, the Musical! is playing at the Panasonic Theatre on Yonge St. Tickets start at $19 for any of their shows. This award-winning, Patron Pick from the 2013 Fringe Festival parodies five classic musicals and is a satirical love-letter to musicals of the 20th century. This show looks perfect to bring out your inner drama geek.  

Eat: Just because it's winter, doesn't mean you can't eat fresh eat locally. Every Sunday from now until February 23rd, Steam Whistle Brewery will have a Winter Farmer's Market from 10am-2pm. This market will have local fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, maple products, honey and beauty product. It's a great way to support local farmers, plus you can pick up some local brews while you're at it. 

Drink: Every Sunday night is F*ck Mondays at the Farmhouse Tavern. With rotating drink specials beginning at at 6pm, it is a great way to not waste a Sunday night dreading Monday morning. They also have $1 oysters starting at 5pm and any food leftover after 9pm is half-price. And since Sunday is going to be the warmest day, you should probably leave the house.

Have a great weekend everyone!

why i love my agenda

I thought of calling this post "why you need an agenda" but I'll let you make your own decisions. I know that my phone and computer can keep my calendar, and can colour-code it as well but I just prefer having a hard copy of it. I can't explain it, but it helps me stay organized and I need it. 

Those who use a paper agenda, they know that the selection of the agenda is a huge deal. You make a commitment to a way of life for a year. A bad agenda can spell disaster. I'm usually weary of buying one online because I like to get a feel for it but I couldn't find one that I liked. I've seen reviews for some pricey agendas online, which I wouldn't mind too much except the shipping was almost just as much and I just couldn't justify that. But regardless, this year, I took the plunge and purchased one online from Etsy. This came from a shop in Lithuania (of all places) and I was really impressed with my first Etsy purchase from The Big Calendar. I purchased it on the 20th and it arrived today and the shipping wasn't too expensive (it was actually cheaper than some of the shops in the states!). The shop I purchased from had a number of covers to choose from. The only thing I would have preferred for the cover is that it was a little more rigid. The agenda was $24 USD and shipping was $8.65 USD. 

I use my agenda for everything- personal, school, blogging, work and money. I also started colour-coding, circling everything in specific colours. I would prefer an agenda with a full month view, it's hard to find so I'm getting used to just the days. I don't need a page for each day I find it a bit much. I also don't need the times, my agenda is mostly for reminders and planning, like parts of an assignment or blog posts. This calendar also had notes on a few days each week, some of them were holidays and some were just funny little notes, like "Vegan Friday". I'm not sure if that is actually a thing but it could be and maybe that Friday, I'll eat vegan. Probably not, but maybe. 

I know that the paper agenda is not for everyone but neither is the electronic calendaring. I know a number of my friends have decided to go to paper in 2014 because I've been fairly successful with mine. People know that I don't commit to any plans without having my book. I love the way I can visualize my tasks and the satisfaction of crossing things out when they're completed with my red pen. I find with the electronic versions, things don't get updated, things go missing, and it's hard to keep track of all my calendars efficiently. If you feel like you've struggled with staying organized and want to make it better in 2014, I would recommend buying a paper agenda. You don't need the most expensive one to figure out what works for you. Even though I will start writing in mine tomorrow, you can wait until they all go on sale in the first week of January. 

Stay organized, my friends. 

thirsty thursday: rolling rock

It is know that I am a beer lover. Tonight I am going to a kitchen party. For non-newfoundlanders or non-maritimers a kitchen party is basically any gathering of people. When maritimers get together for any type of party, it always ends up in the kitchen. Possibly because that's where the food and beer is, so why would we need to move? Well this evening I'm going to a large-scale kitchen party, the Great Big Sea concert. I've honestly lost count of the number of times I've seen them so when my friend said she had an extra ticket I said yes of course. So this evening's thirsty thursday is rolling rock. Sorry, I know it took me a while to get there but you had to understand kitchen party. 

Rolling Rock is actually an American beer. I first started drinking it when St. Louis had them in a mini-pitcher special. That was a while ago but I still drink it. It's a nice beer that isn't too strong. It also isn't too weak, it's 4.5% so I wouldn't consider it a light beer. I'd consider this beer a people-pleaser. If you're looking for a nice beer that isn't as expensive as a heineken or stella but will be easy to serve at any party. 

I hope you all have a fabulous Thursday. Happy Thanksgiving to the Americans, Happy Hanukkah to those celebrating and be safe on Black Friday. 

ten things you never expected to make you happy on a friday night

As I was coming home from the film festival tonight, I saw a group of people obviously going out for a night on the town. It was a little after 11pm and I felt a little sad, because it felt just yesterday that would have been my friends and I. After I shook my head, I realized I was happy to be heading home and I felt I needed to share this with my fellow twenty-somethings who may have felt sad too.

1. Being Sober
There may have been a time where a sober Friday night meant a complete Friday-failure. Little did you know, that there is something to be said about coming home and knowing where your keys, phone, wallet and dignity is. You'll wake up tomorrow at 8am to go to yoga, or 9am to go to breakfast or 10am to do nothing, regardless, your head won't hurt.

2. Heading Home at 11pm
This used to be the time you would just be getting into a line up of people to get into a very crowded and very loud club. Luckily, coming home this early, you're like in great shape to be amused by the embarrassing people on the subway, instead of being one of them. Plus, nothing good ever happens past 2am. Fact.

3. Being Home at 11pm
Maybe you didn't even leave the house after work tonight. There is nothing to be upset about. Your wallet and liver thank you. Plus, you'll get to see the Top Ten before it's available on YouTube tomorrow.

4. Wearing Sensible Shoes
Maybe you did go out tonight, to the film festival, a play, dinner with friends or shopping but wherever you went, you did it in sensible shoes. You could not be bothered to put on 5-inch stilettos only to not feel your toes by midnight, I'm no podiatrist, but that can't be healthy.

5. No One Took Your Picture
Maybe you stayed home tonight, or maybe you had a glass of wine with a girlfriend, either way, your make-up was off and your hair was in a top bun. Not a nice top bun, a proper, I'm here to relax top bun. And that was ok because you didn't need to take 50 pictures to remember the night.

6. You Slept in Your Own Bed
Of course you're always welcome to crash at your girlfriend's place, that was never a question but there is just something wonderful about getting to your own bed and sleeping there until you're ready to get up. It's also way better than sleeping in questionable places people have been found before.

7. You Didn't Eat Anything Off A Value Menu After Midnight
That's really the only time a McChicken or a BigMac or streetmeat is after midnight. You regret in the morning and you definitely didn't need the calories but you ate it anyways. When you have a reasonable night, you don't even consider having that at any time.

8. Taking Off Your Work Clothes and Putting On Your Pajamas
It is a tremendous feeling to take off your tight pants, or tie, or pantyhose and putting on pants that are way too big for you and a cozy soft t-shirt. That is not something you can do if you're going back out at 11pm.

9. Turning Your Phone Off At 11pm
There's a great feeling of waking up in the morning and knowing that you didn't send a stupid text message, you didn't call someone you shouldn't have and you know where the phone is to put it on silent. Embrace it.

10. Shark Tank
There's a great feeling of judging other people's inventions, judging people's business decisions and wondering about what you're doing with you're life. Maybe you will start that blog, or write that movie, or pitch that crazy idea. Why not? These people are doing it. And Shark Tank provides that (or Dragon's Den if you PVRed it).

So don't feel bad that you're already asleep at the time I'm posting it, embrace it. It's maturity and happiness, at least I hope so.