Iceland: The Budget Breakdown

We went to Iceland. I know, you’re shocked. Most people say “Why Iceland?!?” but I am here to say Iceland was one of the best vacations we’ve had, if not THE best. It’s a beautiful country with lovely people (who all speak fluent English) and you really feel like you get to live a bit of Icelandic culture when you’re there. I’d recommend it highly to anyone considering booking a vacation!

Many people have asked us how much it cost to go there, so I thought I’d do a bit of a budget breakdown for you.

Flights: $1263.64 (IcelandAir direct from Seattle Roundtrip for two)

Hotel for 7 nights: $867.51 (Our room had a kitchenette & we had breakfast there at least 1/2 of the time.)

Golden Circle Tour: $129.56 (Totally worth the money. Fantastic trip!)

Blue Lagoon: $112.19 (needed to do it, but expensive for the day)

Husband’s Conference and a tour for me: $422.01 (I got my days mixed up and missed this tour. Huge waste of $$!)

Food $514.67 (this includes alcohol)

Shopping: $85.05 (I bought a toque and a pair of Icelandic wool socks)

Cash $400 (some of this was spent on food/drinks, the rest on other misc expenses)

Hotel in Seattle $181.08 (for the night we landed)

Parking $81.19 (at SEA/TAC for 8 days)

Grand Total of $4056.90 (or $3794.63 without the parking and hotel in Seattle)

We were quite pleased with this (in fact, my original budget was for $3739.73 so I was very impressed with my budgeting skills!) and reasonably believe we can do the trip next year for about $700 cheaper.

So, who’s going to Iceland now??

xox,

b

Goodbye 2011!

Usually, I do a big new years post. This year, I’m in Mexico, about to get ready for a big new years eve dinner and party. Needless to say, I’m just not into the recap this year. 2011 hasn’t been the greatest year for me and my family. The lasting legacy from 2011 will be my brother’s accident and that really isn’t one I’d like to remember. On a positive note though,  2011 was debt free year. Woohoo!

Enjoy the last few hours of 2011. Here’s to a new year with new adventures, lots of joy and even more health and happiness.

Happy New year from Mexico!

 

xox,

b

All I want for Christmas is you

I know I’ve said it one hundred million times, but these past few months have been a challenge. A big big challenge. I’ve used my brain in very different ways, learning how to be a grad student and remembering how to write papers. I’ve become a better teacher with many many more clinical hours teaching at the university. I’ve been extremely challenged with certain students and trying to figure out how to best teach in order to facilitate different learning challenges. I’ve dealt with a few co-workers and higher ups not being overly kind and on the flip side, feeling way more supported than I ever have by others.

T and I have dealt with my crazy schedule and his crazy travel schedule (he’s been gone a total of 9 weeks since September) and never getting to see each other. We’ve fought over stupid things (why didn’t YOU take the garbage out?!) and I’ve cried many tears of frustration and exhaustion.

Despite all the crazy, putting up our Christmas tree (albeit undecorated still – did I mention we’re busy?) always makes me appreciative of my life. I am so blessed to be spending the holidays with the people I love most, and then jet-setting off to Mexico to spend a blissful week with T.

I am so lucky. Lucky to have the support of a wonderful husband, even when my schedule puts even more stress on him. Lucky to have my family and their unwavering cheerleading of my pursuits. Lucky to be able to attend grad school and pursue my dream.

I am so lucky.

xox

b

We Remember

In Flanders Fields by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Canadians in Flanders Fields

(photo from The Toronto Quarterly)

As I bustle along in my daily life, stressed about one thing or another, I don’t take the time to remember how lucky I am that I have this life. That I’m able to attend university, work, live the way I choose.

Today, I’m taking several moments to remember and thank all the Canadian Forces – past, present and future – for their sacrifice of life, time, and moments away from their families so that I can live the life I have today.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

xox

b

Merry Christmas Eve!

I’m busy cooking/baking up a storm over here.

I’ll be sure to take some pictures of everything I make! Fingers crossed for no family craziness!

Merry Christmas to you all! Hope it’s a great time with your friends and families

xox

b

My oven hates me

Yesterday I was exhausted. The day before I had worked all day and then driven out to the university an hour and a half away to have instruction on my new job. I was out late and to bed late and then I got up in the morning to get back to work again.

I was exhausted.

Except I had to bake cookies for our Christmas cookie exchange at work.

So when I burned the two trays of Rum Logs I made, I was mighty pissed off. The oven temp was correct. The recipe said 12-15 minutes and I put them on for 10. They had black bottoms by 8 minutes. How ridiculous. My second type of cookie (peppermint chocolate crinkle cookies) were supposed to go in for 10-12 minutes and they needed 14 minutes to bake through.

My oven. It hates me.

I was out of butter and had no time (or energy. seriously, I was draggin my butt) to make another batch of the burnt cookies so like a trooper, I scraped off the burnt parts and kept them. I’ll have to apologize to the girls at work and remind them that this is not indicative of my baking skills. Just how much my oven hates me.

*sigh*

Happy Fake Friday! (And boy do I ever need  a fake Friday!)

xox

b

Bye bye willpower

This time of year, my will power goes out the window. Other times during the year, I politely decline most chocolates, cakes and cookies. I only eat home made goods and even then, I’m picky. I really determine if it’s worth it before I go eat crappy chocolate, ya know? But this time of year rolls around and people are dropping boxes of cookies and chocolates off at my office right left and centre.

And I can’t say no! Just one…turns into 5 or 6…turns into MY BELLY HURTS!

I know I need to do better. I don’t feel good when I eat all that garbage. I don’t like all the chemicals and oils that are in store bought cookies. I just really need my will power not to take a Christmas vacation!

xox

b

Woah, wait. Christmas is in how many days?

I think I’ve officially rejoined the living. Just in time to realize – holy crap – Christmas is in 12 days?! How did that happen??

I wrapped all my presents (except for one straggler that didn’t make it to the PO box) and stuffed a few stockings that are going in the mail to my husbands family. I’ve got cookies to bake for my office exchange which I haven’t even thought of yet. I guess I better get my butt in gear since uh, Christmas is in 12 days. Yowza.

Did this holiday season sneak up on everyone or just me since I was out of commission for a week?

xox

b

TGIF

This weekend is going to have:

1. Christmas tree selection and decorating
2. Gingerbread men
3. Snuggle time with my husband
4. Christmas music
5. Laundry
6. Grocery shopping

Gosh, I’m thrilling aren’t I? Anyone have fabulous weekend plans?

Can I get a Christmas Tree now?

I promised T that I’d wait until December 1st before I started setting up Christmas stuff. Actually, I have to wait until December 3rd when he gets home. That is love, let me tell you.

I am such a Christmas girl. It’s been a bit of a battle teaching T to love the holiday season as much as I do but I think he’s coming around. For me, it’s all the traditions we did as kids with my mom.

When we set up the Christmas tree, we make home made pizza and eat fudgesicles. My mom buys us each a new ornament every year that we open on the day we put up our tree. Now that I’m older, I buy one for my mom too so she participates with the rest of us. It’s so fun every year going through my ornaments from the years past.

There is always a gingerbread man making fest (maybe this weekend!) and I make apple cider in my crock pot.

We watch Christmas movies like The Muppets Home for the Holidays and The Santa Claus (I’m totally into this movie for the hot chocolate machine). When there aren’t Christmas movies on TV, the fake fireplace is on. Does everyone have the TV fireplace? Where every 3 hours when the video loops you can see the guy’s hand come in and stoke the fire?

T and I are trying to make out own traditions too. We went to 3 Christmas craft fairs this year and we’re hoping to make one of them (the good one!) a tradition. We’ve started Christmas Eve dinner at our house.

Who’s big on Christmas traditions? Who’s got fun ones for me?

xox

b

P.S. Ok. I confess. I may have waited til Dec 3 for the tree, but my Christmas music has been playing for weeks. Sarah McLachlan -Song for a Winter’s Night = one of my faves. Anything by Mahalia Jackson (big gospel voice! Go tell it on the mountain brings back total childhood memories!) and the entire “A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector” album brings back some old school Christmas tune love.