Springtime Snow Day

Robs, Mahshad and I went to High Park this afternoon. We were frolicking, having snowball fights, and just generally enjoying our spring time winter. I even made a snow angel for the first time in about 25 years.
I think we got 30cm between Friday and Sunday- and though most feel its pretty late in the season to still be getting so much snow- I'm of the mind to take advantage... It was a beautiful day out- brisk but not too cold- with a bright blue sky (peppered with clouds): perfect for hiking through the park.
This is Robyn mid walk.


Me building a mini snowman/unidentifiable abstract sculpture.


People don't expect Toronto to have wide open spaces.


Be scared. Be very scared.


Lying in the snow.


My friends are fighting. I think Robyn had the upper hand because shes just learned she's an inch taller than she thought she was.


I'm busy minding my own business... lying in the snow... and enjoying all that mother nature has to offer- when my "friends" start pummeling with snow. As you can see I was very upset.



Robs on the streetcar on the way home.

Snow, smoothies and surprises.

Snowing again... and loved it. I was at Vaughn Estates today for a brainstorming session... and we were surrounded by trees. It was so beautiful. I wish I'd had a camera to take a picture.
And I thought of something else I wanted for my b-day... (surprise)
- a magic bullet to make fruit smoothies in the morning. My friend told me today a little trick she has to add protein to the smoothie (That's one of the reasons I've never copped on to having them- I feel like they are just a glass of sugar...) - She adds half a cup of egg beaters. Can't taste the egg and it adds the low fat protein. Love it.
- "Flight of the Conchords" DVD. SOOOO FUNNY.

snow filled days and vodka fueled nights

On Friday we received a no where near record snow fall of 25cm - but it happened during the day - instead of at night... so people panicked and shut things down. Our fearless leader (I mean that genuinely- he's actually a great boss) sent us home around 1pm... in order to avoid chaos on the commute. It was a great way to start off the weekend... especially since my commute involves hopping on a subway and heading
south 5 stops to my house.

The best part about the "storm" is that it was just lots of snow, but still quite warm out- so the result was just beautiful snow capped trees and sidewalks lined with the white stuff- without the frigid freezing temperatures.
My roommate and I decided to spend a quiet night in on Friday- watch movies and order pizza. We watched the desert and cave disc of "BBCs: Planet Earth" SOOOOO AMAZING!!!!
Then my friend RW called at 10 and persuaded us to come out for some guy's b-day. Because they were gathering at one my of my favourite bars- "Czehoski's" we decided to go. It was really fun- quite a few people braved the snow to come out.

Last night we went to the newly renovated "Pravda" - and it's my new favourite bar.
Aside from being stumbling distance home... not that I ever stumble- the decor was fantastic, the music was loud and great and the vodkas...well they have my favourite Bison Wheat Grass vodka (that Czehoski's usually has but was out of on Friday) as well as MANY others...I think everyone was feeling stir crazy from being housebound the night before- because the place was packed... and hot. The crowd were eclectic- a LOT of cougars and greasy old men- and they were just as entertaining as the 20 somethings ordering bottle service in the corner- spending their parent's money like there was no tomorrow.
Me and my friends hovered somewhere in the middle- enjoying the music as it brought us back to our childhood (Rains in Africa anyone??) and the spectacle of the 40something woman who took off her top and danced the night away in her bra... I don't think there is enough vodka on planet earth to get rid of that image.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

I realize that there has already been a lot of coverage and pictures and posts about the massive snowfall that Ontario received this past weekend- but here's my own experience of it.
I went to Waterloo for the weekend to visit rellies for Christmas. We had it all planned- my cousin Jo was picking me up at the bus station- we'd go get my hair cut and gossip over tea... then we'd pick up her daughters (I feel like they are my nieces and often refer to them as such for ease of explanation) Isabel and Emily who are 7 and 8. We went to se the movie "Enchanted" - very excited. Everyone loved it- and had popcorn and M&Ms and sugary beverages.
We left the theatre around 3:30pm and it was already starting to snow heavily. Jo knew that a storm was coming and so she dropped me off at my uncle Frank and Aunt Leagh's house and hurried home to get off the roads. Isabel (Belle to me and Izzy to others) stayed with me.
We hunkered down and had a cozy night watching Christmas specials while the adults drank Bailey's.

The next morning we woke to a winter wonderland. It was the BEST kind of snowfall. The whole city at a standstill- succumbing to the majesty of old man winter. But it was white and fluffy and beautiful- and not too freezing (if you were bundled up).


Frank, Leagh and I dressed up (I wore my new boots that I LOVE) and shoveled the driveway while Isabel made some lunch. I'm glad Frank had the snow blower- but it was still heavy going.

It was the greatest feeling to come in from the frosty outdoors be greeted with the old school scent of Lipton Chicken Noodle soup- with the warmth of the home. I loved it.

Belle and I then decided to brave the outside again to go for a walk. I got us to the end of the side street and said "Oh Belle I dont think we can do this. Tim Horton's is too far away- we might not make it."
To which Isabel replied (very sternly) "Sarah I'm not a giver upper. We're going!!" So I laughed and said "Alright Belle- Let's do this"
And we did. We made it to Tim's, had some milk and tea and got some groceries at the nearby Price Choppers and made it back to the house in just under two hours. It was a great adventure- and I'm glad I had her company.

It really was a bit of magic to have everyone tucked away inside and everything so quiet outside. When I got back to the city and wandered down Queen Street in Toronto- it was just so quiet and peaceful. For whatever reason I'm having a love affair with the snow this season- and loving all the peace and beauty it brings. (Maybe because we're Canadian and having warm winters is scary.) I say Let it Snow.

White out

I was in a meeting yesterday on the 12th floor with wall to wall windows. In the middle of the meeting we were interrupted by thunder and lightening- in the middle of the SNOW STORM. It was a complete white out- so crazy!!!! I'm so happy to be going to Miami tomorrow!!