Hey guys! I haven't had the chance to make that many lifestyle posts since I launched the new branding even though it was the main reason for renaming the blog. So here we go! Even if spring has been miserable so far in Montreal, there's something about the month of April that always re-energizes me about planning the rest of my year.
Fleeing next winter
This might sound like a weird one but I'm already planning where I will be next January to March because I just can't stand winters here anymore. I'm simply not a person who enjoys winter so it has become a goal of mine to find a way to get away from it without ruining myself financially. The good news as a web consultant is that I can work from anywhere so it's time to enjoy it while it lasts.
So far, I've been looking at house-swapping sites to reduce costs. I'm going to create my profile on GuestToGuest which seems to be the only platform that's free for now. I'm also thinking of trying out Flatbook, a Montreal startup that could handle my subletting and give me enough money back to rent elsewhere.
Travel Destinations
It's the first year that I have no idea where I want to go when it comes to really big trips. I have a few smaller trips in mind though:
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A 2-3 day shopping spree in Boston with 4-5 days in a beach house in Maine
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Going for a nice long weekend trip to Prince Edward County
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Visiting family in Morocco at the end of the summer
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Renting a cabin in the Vermont woods at the beginning of next fall
Fitness
I'm still a Crossfit addict but compared to last year, I go 3-4 times a week instead of 4-5 times a week. I think it's a good balance with my current schedule and I want to try new things now that I physically can!
I've been thinking about giving bouldering a try this summer. Shakti offers ladies' night on Thursdays so that could be a go after doing an intro class!
For now, I'm going to start with a daily practice on the handstand hold. It's one of the only movements at Crossfit that really throws me off, especially kicking up into position. I found this site recently that offers an interesting approach to reaching the wall so I'll be working on that from home for a start!
And of course, I still want to run 2-3k a week on top of the running they make us do at Crossfit (a lot...).
Spring Shopping
I also always go on a shopping spree mode right after paying my taxes since I'm lucky to always save a little bit too much (it happens when you freelance and get really scared).
Speaking of which, I got two awesome gadgets lately that I want to talk about:
Vitamix 300
Oh, this one wasn't cheap at all but I'm in love with it! I paid approximately $600 for this model that I ordered though Williams Food Equipment to avoid additional border fees.
So far I've only used it for smoothies or soups and the end result is so amazing! The container is so big that I usually end up with 3 to 5 mason jars of the same smoothie which makes it easy to share. I'm looking forward to using it for homemade almond milk!
Fitbit Charge HR
I also ordered the Fitbit Charge HR through Amazon.ca two weeks ago for about $200.
I've been meaning to get a simple pedometer for a while just because I was curious about my stats and after doing intensive research, I found that the Charge HR was a great intro to smart watches without spending too much money.
My band's favourite functionalities include:
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Heart rate monitor
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Miles walked on top of steps and stairs
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Silent alarm to wake me up without noise
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Basic time and date view
In the past 7 days, I've only been taking it off for showers and charging it once.
What about you? What do you look forward to in 2015 now that the winter is finally fading away? Any yearly traditions during April or May? I'd love to hear about it!