I'm so fit - I walk everywhere

Two weeks into my vacation, I was presented with tackling transit and doing city centre shopping all by my lonesome!  

Well, what really happened was that Luke had a stag party to go to and I was apparently not invited. Anyways, I decided to be brave and individualistic and tackle Coventry City Centre on my own. Let me tell you, it was not intimidating. I managed to catch buses to and from very successfully and bought several little knickknacks upon arrival to city centre. Actually, that is strange because we go to city centre almost every day and you would think I would have seen all there is to see.. But nope! I've actually been there thrice since then and so I can't even give a great description of what I bought. Something from Top Shop seems inevitable. OH! Tights. Everyone here wears tights - with shorts, dresses, pants.. I've seen it all.

 

Tuesday was a nostalgic day for Luke. He took me on a walking tour of Coventry to show me where he used to live and the schools he used to go to! It was nice having a context for what he talks about. So we took a bus to his elementary school where we then began our walk to his old house, and then to his high school and then to my favourite place - city centre.

What I remember is getting home and being all proud of myself for walking 4 miles or so in a day. Lots of "Wow, Kim. You're so fit" kind of thoughts circling in my head. I had no idea what was to come...

I also went to one of Luke's football games where I was one of 4 spectators. Lucky me though, Luke scored an AMAZING goal. Ask him about it ;)

Wednesday was a rainy day - a very typical English rainy day from what I am being told. Everyone in this house told me at different times that it was one of those days where you stay in pajamas and watch TV all day. However, I was restless and decided that if I can walk to University in the Canadian winter in snow that comes up past my knees, I can brave a little wind and rain.

Luke was not pleased with my determination, so I decided to be the amazing girlfriend that I am and not suggest Ikea, even though that was the obvious thing to do (obvious in that I wanted to go and we hadn't yet and I like Ikea). Instead we bought donuts from a little street vendor and sat at a coffee shop and discussed many important and interesting topics.

Thursday was day trip day! The plan was to go to Leamington Spa and see what there was to see and do what there was to do. NOPE. We didn't do any planning and we arrived at the train station an hour early for the next train. We didn't feel like waiting around so we declared it a failed adventure and went to the next logical conclusion: go to city centre. More shopping was involved. Luke bought nice dress clothes and I bought shoes that I would come to loathe in 24 hours time.

This brings us to the end of the week. It was a beautiful day out and I wanted to do something as our day trip the day before hadn't actually happened. Luke suggested a stroll to Coombe Abbey. I've been walking quite a bit since I got here so naturally I agreed. I was wearing my new tights and my new shoes and was just waiting to show Coventry how awesome I looked as we strolled around.

13 kilometres later, we returned home.

A short walk to Coombe Abbey and back turned into a dangerous path involving potential trespassing, walking on motorways (or maybe just roads, I'm not sure the difference) and seeing some cows. And I did this all in my new shoes. Bad choice. Though, in my defence, when Luke said stroll I did not envision 13 kilometres of hiking through wilderness.

I should mention that Coombe Abbey was quite lovely in the end. Lots of green grass and trees and swans and ducks and ice cream. I was more than happy to sit by that point as well! :)

Tomorrow I will update you on my journey to Leeds and Newcastle!

 

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Mondays Are Awesome 009

Today was actually really awesome. And the past couple days have been really awesome. So before I use up my quota of how many times I am permitted to use the word "awesome", I"ll just go ahead and make my list!

1. Farmer's Markets
I went on the weekend with a good friend, and we caught up on life, drank starbucks and I bought hummus. Honestly, what better life is there?

2. Shopping!
I normally go shopping and end up buying nothing because I love unaffordable beauties or because I'm super picky. But my friend from Calgary was up this weekend and so we went shopping and i bought a new dress which I wore today at the...

3. Zoo!
Luke and I went to the Valley Zoo today and it was so fun! I'm not saying the Edmonton zoo is anything particularly special, but I do like it :) I don't remember the last time I was there without children and day camps and activities. Oh no wait, Suzanne and I scoped out the zoo a few years ago.

Okay, story time. Back in the days of day camps, Suzanne and I had zero knowledge of how to get around Edmonton in any efficient manner so google maps was our very best friend. Anyways, we wanted to scope out the zoo for future trips, so we asked mr. google how to get there. Google has a warped sense of Edmonton. He led us straight downtown. When is a zoo ever downtown?!

Anyways, that's all :)

Mondays Are Awesome 008

Yes, yes, I am fully aware that it is, indeed, Tuesday but I haven't done one for a while, and I meant to write yesterday and Lauren wanted one soooooo yes.

1. Coffee
As this practicum wears on, I find myself making daily sacrificial offerings of money at varying coffee companies. But it does the trick, yo.

2. Lessons that go really really well
I did a lesson on propaganda last Friday and IT WENT SO WELL. I could not have asked for that class to have gone any better. The kids were engaged, I was having fun with the discussions that came out of it and generally, I was quite pleased.

3. People who make me blog/lesson plan
This list includes people like Lauren and Luke.

4. The fact that I have 8 days left before I can sleeeeeep for days!

5. Knowing that I can potentially win at a game of British Trivial Pursuit!

And now for more lesson planning.

Mondays Are Awesome 007

just a quick and dirty checklist of awesome things as I need to sleep asap.

1. starbucks
2. the drawsomething app - hilarious!
3. Chris Tomlin - just came back from his concert!
4. classes that will actually have discussion <3
5. 'girly' nights with suzanne

YEP.

Mondays Are Awesome 006

Well, I think it is suffice to say that this Monday has not been awesome. I just wanted to bang my head against the wall all day. So here's to looking at what might come this week!

1. Short Week!

Thankfully, though this week has started off poorly, it is a short week. On Friday I will get to hang out with my friends and discuss things and dress casually and not lesson plan or teach! It will be such a nice break for me.

2. Spring Break

And its only 2 weeks until spring break! THANK GOODNESS. A full week off! I can hardly wait. I shall sleep and eat and be merry and hang out with friends. Life can be good.

3. Cup of tea

Thankfully this will happen in about 5 minutes. No waiting for this one. Imma get it right now! 

Mondays Are Awesome 005

I'm really getting into the swing of things with student teaching. Today was a mostly good day, so I actually am feeling that today could be considered fairly awesome. Shall we review some awesome things?

1. Alcatraz

I'm a tv addict. It's the truth. Anyways, this one is brand new and it is fun and a little suspenseful and I just want to watch them all. Plus, some of the criminals are kind of cute... :P

2. Once Upon a Time

Seriously, such a tv addict. This one is about fairy tales and real life and my doppelganger (see above) is in it and I dig her. 

3. My new slippers

My stepdad brought me this lovely knit slippers from Vancouver this week and they are SO WARM. Especially in my basement, these slippers are a saving grace.

4. Teacher's Convention

I actually loved it! I heard some absolutely amazing speakers and I was so inspired. I had the opportunity to listen to Romeo Dallaire and Roberta Bondar and some other speakers. Can't believe I have to wait until I'm an actual teacher to go to another. 

Honestly, that's all I have for now. Everything is else is the same as every week! I also think that the dance this past weekend was so much fun! And I always think the people that I hang out with are super cool. It's been a good week :)

Mondays Are Awesome 004

It was unbelievable. I was awake and ready to go ALL DAY. I seriously can't remember the last Monday where I was well rested and awake, alive, alert and enthusiastic. Oh, do you guys not know that song? Ask me to sing it sometime haha. What made today and this past week so awesome.

1. TEACHING

I freaking love teaching. I had forgotten how much I enjoy it. And this practicum I get to try some different ways of assessment and interactive learning and I'm generally super stoked to try it. My mentor teacher is so supportive and the rest of the staff is really awesome. Plus, the other student teacher and I started Scarf/SweaterVest Fridays!

2. MY MOM

You know you have a wonderful mother when she goes out before you even get up to shovel your car out of the 20cm of snow that has surrounded it and park it out on the driveway.

Okay, so I realize that's only two things, but the first one is just so exciting that I can't think of any other ones... :D

Mondays Are Awesome 003

It's been a really awesome week, as a week off should be. I've been sleeping and reading and basically doing nothing - so glorious. Anyways, onwards!

1. TV

Since being off school, I've managed to catch up on all my essential tv shows! This list is diverse but includes Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Castle, Alcatraz and Modern Family. 

2. Dancing!

There was a swing dance social thing this weekend that was lots of fun! I very much enjoyed dressing up and dancing and hanging out with my friends.

3. Spanish Lattes

Not the boozy kind but the kind that I found at this adorable little mediterranean place. Apparently they use condensed milk so it's similar to Vietnamese coffee - anyways, SO GOOD.

4. The famjam

Since it's Family Day, Brett, John, Mom, and I all watched a movie this evening! Though, Mom fell asleep and Brett 'went to the bathroom' and failed to reappear,  I feel like John and I bonded.

5. Homemade Bailey's

We made more :DDDD

Mondays Are Awesome 002

It's suffice to say that today actually is awesome. It's my reading week, so there is no school and I totally slept in! I have missed sleep. So, here is what I have been loving lately.

1. My classmates

I really loved my class this semester, and my classmates were kind of ridiculous, in a mostly good way. Though I am super stoked to be out teaching, I will miss the social studies camaraderie that we all shared.

2. My Costco blanket

Lately my house has been extra extra chilly and this blanket brings the heat! Literally! Most mornings (most mornings meaning this week) I wander around the house wrapped up in it. It's brown and cozy and I would imagine I sort of look like a potato. 

3. Moroccan Tea (and tea in general)

We even brought out the china to enjoy our Moroccan tea yesterday. Gorgeous, right? Nothing like china tea cups to make your tea drinking even more enjoyable. 

4. My new yellow sweater

I did think about taking a picture and modeling this for you but I just got back from yoga and the rest of my ensemble would be sweatpants and a weird looking ponytail. It deserves a better debut. 

5. stumbleupon

If you have no idea what this website is, go discover. It's wicked awesome and it zaps boredom like THAT. I have found some real gems lately.

However stumbleupon also gives you some straight up weird websites. Earlier today I 'stumbled' upon a website that detailed one person's shower routine...

Happy Monday!

Mondays Are Awesome 001

Since Mondays generally a sleepy haze of a day I thought I would set up a little series. On Mondays I will post a list of things I love. Starting today!

1. Successful school work

Though I would not advise staying up until 4 in the morning to complete anything, my unit plan went so well! I got my mark back today (my prof is a machine when it comes to marking) and I did sooo much better than anticipated! It really pumps me up before this whole teaching business.

2. Hummus

To those who know me well, this is in my top 3 favourite foods. Edmonton locals, go to Happy Camel and get the original hummus - so freaking delicious. I'm addicted.

3. A clean car

This is generally not the case with my car, but right now he is beautiful. I washed inside and out and am now unashamed to take people places. Before it was "come into my car but please don't look anywhere in the backseat...".

4. Scarves

I just ordered the prettiest one off etsy today and I can't wait for it to come! I actually just love scarves in general. I want many soft scarves in all colors. :)