I am already noticing with the cold weather here that I have started to hibernate to the indoors. I want to make an extra effort this winter season to enjoy some of the events and sports of the season. Here are some of my plans for this winter:
Shopping Season – With all the shopping that needs to be done for Christmas, I like to change it up a little bit with my shopping destinations so that I am not always shopping at the same mall in the same city. Before Christmas, I plan to make a trip out to the states. I have been to Port Huron, Michigan and its surrounding area several times, so I think this year I’d like to take the other route out of the country to Buffalo, New York. This is a close drive from where I am currently living in Hamilton and I heard they have a good mall in the city centre: the Galleria.
I was talking to Nikki at school on Wednesday about getting together to do some Christmas shopping during our Christmas break from school (2 more weeks!). We decided that we would take the GO train to Toronto to do some shopping at the Eaton Centre and in around the downtown area. I always enjoy going to downtown Toronto around the holiday season because it’s always nicely spruced up in holiday decorations!
These are pictures from last weekends trip to Stratford for some Christmas shopping. Stratford is a really cute town, with a body of water in the middle of the town and is known for theatre. We went to the Christmas store (pictured above) and took a stroll down the downtown to the shops (pictured above). We bought some really yummy cheese, chocolate, and I bought a gift for each of my neices.
Skiing – This is one of the sports I want to make a regular part of the winter season. Eventually, when money allows for it, I plan to purchase my own equipment and make a hobby out of trying out new ski hills with Aleksy (who would snowboard of course) through the winters. This year, I plan to start with the purchase of some small, very small gear (I have goggles, I’m thinking of purchasing poles). I figure if I buy my gear in small increments than it won’t be such a financial burden than if I purchased it in one shot. Hopefully we can make it out to at least a couple ski hills this winter. It would be nice to try something different than Blue Mountain or Horseshoe, but I’m not sure what other good ski hills there are in Ontario?
I also plan on trying snowboarding for the very first time this winter season. I’ll have Aleksy as my coach! I feel like it’ll probably be a lot of time on my butt! I’ll probably start it off at a smaller hill like Boler mountain.
Snowshoeing – Aleksy made it clear that Snowshoeing would be a boring pastime, because it’s walking in the snow with big shoes, which he can do anytime. I disagree, and I really want to try out snowshoeing for the first time since girl guides this year. I want to find a scenic destination somewhere in Northern Ontario (but not too North, my car is not meant for Northern winters and I can’t afford to replace my tires this year!) and rent snowshoes and make a day of it! Nikki said that this is something that she has wanted to do too, so we’re going to make a date of it! It will probably be sometime in the New Year. I’m really excited to try it out!
A Fantastic New Years – In the past month I have been trying to coordinate a cottage for the New Years weekend with friends. I ended up getting all New Years weekend off of work (I usually sign up to work New Years day instead of Christmas day) at the cost of working Christmas day at 8pm (I was going in for the sleep shift at midnight anyways so I figured why not if it meant having a Christmas AND a New Years) so I really want to take advantage of New Years! The BEST New Years EVER was the year Aleksy, Andz, Chels, Warren and I went up to the cottage in Kawartha Lakes (skiing picture is from that excursion). I really want to do something similar this year, and perhaps do some snowmobiling (as long as I don’t have to drive), and maybe skiing. I am trying my hardest to get my friends on board!
And tonight Aleksy and I are going to the Lighting of the Lights in Victoria Park, London. I LOVE Christmas decorations and sparkles and lights, so it’s right up my alley! I work until 8pm in Hamilton so I will get to London around 9:30, then we will get a Starbucks and take a stroll. It’s always a good date night to take a stroll through downtown with a latte, but especially good with the Lighting of the Lights :)
No comments:
Post a Comment