Happy 2018 guys! So long 2017 – you were a smash.
Lots of happy times, some hard times and loads of learning. There were road trips, wine tours and Haida Gwaii adventures. Like the photo above. Our neighbours invited on a jaunt with some of Queen Charlotte’s loveliest songbirds for a Haida Gwaii Radio special. Summary: the happy little day trip involved a zodiac, winter sun, hot cocoa, doggy beach hangs and some good old Christmas carols in an echo-y, rusty, old fuel drum at a former logging camp. Hear the story here at about minute 59.
Fast forward through holiday gluttony (minimum five sugar cookies a day + basting my first 16 pound turkey) and a dusting of snow in the rainforest. On January 1, we headed south to start the year visiting my family in the Thompson/Okanagan/Smilkameen. The kiddo and I travelled to Tulameen with another old friend and her ‘only’ (#only1kidclub). We sledded, gorged on homemade wonton soup and explored the tiny town perched on the the Kettle Valley Railway. Our little entourage included dogs, sleds and very snow-bundled kids screeching with equal doses of glee and despair as we hiked around in knee-deep snow.
If you haven’t visited Tulameen – go at once. It’s a relatively short drive from the Vancouver and is a year round playground. Lake/water fun in the summer, icy, snow fun in the winter. What a fantastic first! Thanks to my host one of my longest, long-time friends Kelley.
Life back on the island feels a bit like the guy above. But better some movement than no movement at all, right? I’ve been listening to loads of podcasts, eating ridiculously healthy thanks to a Wild Rose d-tox and getting more sleep thanks to a Facebook break. One of the best podcasts I listened while driving around through BC Interior was Happier by Gretchen Rubin and Elizabeth Craft. Fellow traveller and writer, Jody Robbins suggested it a while back and I’m hooked. The show’s premise is focused on the small things you can do to achieve happiness.
Before the new year (episode 149) they shared the concept “18 for 18” which is more to do list than resolution list. It can be practical and whimsical. So rather than doing resolutions for only self improvement, my “18 for 2018” is kind of like a things that make me happy and things I need/want to do list. Some of my items are simple (eat more food from Haida Gwaii) while others are proving to be a bit harder (write a letter a week). I have written four thank you cards and tried making seaweed cannelloni so: CHECK. The other stuff (aim for pre baby weight or take time to meditate) are a bit harder, but heck, I have the whole year, right?!
And you know what one of the best things about my list is? My kick butt Alicia Carvahlo notepad. I have the list in two spots – on my “Getting Shit Done” note pad and in my journal. I carry the Carvahlo sized 18 for 2018 list around with me and bonus point: it makes me very happy there is a cuss word on top of my list.
So that being said, when I ordered a re-up in December, Alicia set me an extra pad for a lucky Anchors+Proteas reader. Yay and thanks Alicia! You know what else, I’m also going to share a couple other goodies from my “18 for 2018” list with you. It’s a sort of goalgetter giveaway. The giveaway includes: Wildwood incense is from Element Botanicals, some kelp lasagne noodles from North Pacific Kelp, plus a couple fun Anthro cards to send to your faraway friends. I want to give this little package away to a lucky reader say THANK YOU and HAPPY 2018.
To enter simply tell me what you’re excited about this year in the comments below. I’ll draw winners and send out the package into the snail mail mid-February. You can enter again through my Instagram… just look for the graphic above in my feed.
Happy 2018
CONGRATS TO SAVVY FERSNER, THE WINNER OF THE GIVEAWAY!
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