These Are a Few of My Favourite Things! | May Favourites

No joke guys... I legitimately typed March favourites whilst writing this. WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE???

Favourites

This month has been so busy between organizing my life being back home and getting into the swing of things work-wise.

Food

1. Barilla Gluten Free Pasta

Having been diagnosed with celiac disease, I have been trying to find gluten free options to try. I have found that a lot of gluten free pastas can be quite starchy and just not really the pasta eating experience I'm used to. I love that this gluten free pasta is a blend of rice and corn flours. I have found, when it comes to gluten free, flour blends make a better product than one chosen flour. Once I discovered Barilla's gluten free pasta, I stopped missing regular flour pastas- it's really no different!

2. Homemade Gluten Free Pizza

When the celiac disease diagnosis came about, the first thing I that crossed my mind was that I needed to find a good pizza recipe. I shared the recipe in a previous blog post so I won't go into detail about it again here. My favourite toppings for my pizza have been bacon, asparagus, broccoli, and sweet corn... yummy!! 

Beauty

3. e.l.f. Liquid Eyeliner

Again, I mentioned this product in a previous blog post so I'm not going to talk about it again. I really love this eyeliner so much! I've never found a liquid eyeliner that I really liked so when I bought this one on a whim my expectations were set quite low. However I absolutely love this product!

Technology/Entertainment
4. Ladies Who Lunch Podcast
I think these two ladies (and their occasional guests) have such amazing thoughts and I love listening to their opinions. They cover some really intense topics and have a beautiful way of discussing the hard parts of life.

5. Grey's Anatomy
There's nothing to say other than I started watching from Season 1... Again...

6. My YouTube Channel

I started daily vlogging and I LOVE it! It would mean the absolute world to me if you all would check it out.

Miscellaneous
7. My Brother's Birthday Cake
Back at the beginning of May, my little brother turned 16! He asked me if I would make him a birthday cake, which I excitedly agreed to. He then expressed to me that he wanted a Minion cake... oh boy haha. I hate to toot my own horn but, this is not a bad job by any means haha. Watching people cut into this cake and eat it broke my heart a little bit to be honest!

8. Lilacs
I'm not a huge fan of flowers, but there's something about lilacs that I absolutely love! They are so beautiful and fragrant. I love walking by lilac bushes and taking a deep breath. Lilacs are the ultimate proof to me that summer is on it's way!

9. This Shirt
Not much to say other than I got it at Urban Planet and I love it!

10. Colouring
I'm sure I mentioned adult colouring books in a favourites post before but I feel like I need to mention them again as May saw a fair few finished colouring pages.

11. Quotes Photos

I tend to find solace in quotes. I think they can change your mood if you let them so I always keep quite a bit of photo quotes saved on my phone. These are just a few of them!

Moments

12. Graduation Photoshoot

I was hired for my first paying, professional photography gig. It was such an amazing experience! The photos turned out amazing too. I'm so happy with how everything went!

13. Boardwalk Stroll

I was reunited with Paul and it felt so good! Paul is one of my best friends. Our life paths seem to be harmonious as he also moved to Ottawa and now back to the Sault. We took a lovely walk at sunset down the boardwalk for about an hour... there were no quiet moments! It's nice to have those friends where you can just pick up where you left off no matter how long it's been.

14. Motorcycle Rides

Dad bought a motorcycle and I'm sure I was just as excited as he was haha. There's something about a motorcycle ride that makes me so happy!! I can't wait for the next one.

15. Swimming at Sunset

This entire day- Papa's birthday party- is a favourite of mine for the month of May. It's so lovely to be home and be able to attend family parties in person- no more Skyping in for this girl! We ended the day by jumping into the freezing cold lake at sunset! What a way to welcome summer!

Goals

1. Strengthen My Faith: mindful meditation 15 min on Sundays

I began meditating this month and I really enjoy the way it makes me feel. I was having trouble controlling my mind and so I downloaded the guided mediation app called Calm. It has made a huge difference in the success of my mediation sessions. I highly recommend it.

2. Love My Body: start running again

Not only do I love running itself, but I also love being outside and finding new and beautiful places. I think running is making a huge difference in my day-to-do happiness and in my self love.

3. Explore New Mediums of Creativity: write something just for me

This was such a therapeutic experience. I actually wrote two things- a personal essay and a poem. 

4. Find More Joy: enjoy being home

I have enjoyed being home to no end! Spending time with the people I love in the place I love has been such an amazing blessing.

5. Have an Open Heart: reconnect

I've been able to spend time with all my favourite people- both friends and family. It's been amazing to reconnect with all the people that I've been away from for so long.

June

1. Strengthen my faith: find a comfortable way to pray

2. Love my body: start building muscle mass

3. Explore new creative mediums: build a photo frame

4. Find more joy: discover a new hobby

5. Have an open heart: recognize the needs of others

All in all, May was an amazing month and it is giving me nothing but positive vibes heading into June.

What have you loved this month? Do let me know!

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Thanks for reading & check back again to see what KatieDidd, xo

March Madness! | Goals & Favourites

Favourites

1. Topless and Barefoot by Essie
This has been my favourite nude polish this month. It's just the right amount of brown and pink- love it so much!

2. Painting
I'm not good by any means however, I have found great love in painting. I think it's important to have creative outlets even if it isn't necessarily something you excel at.

3. Cosmetic Photography
I'm not a huge makeup lover so this new found love for cosmetic photography took me completely by surprise. I love the way the products look in photography!

4. Rubber Boots
This time of year it's so muddy and sloppy and rainy. Rubber boots have been my go-to footwear all month. Mine are by the brand Kamik; super durable and lined with amazingly soft material.

5. Teen Mom 2
GUYS THEY'RE BACK!! I have been a fan of Teen Mom 2 since they first aired with these girls five or six years ago. I'm so happy they are back!

6. I Think I'm In Love by Kat Dhalia
I'm late to the party on this one, but this song has been my go-to jam throughout the whole of March.

7. High Key Portraits
The light just makes anyone and everyone look utterly flawless! The vibes of high key portraiture are just stunning.

8. The Sims
This obsession is kind of embarrassing haha. I really enjoy this game though. I have it on my phone and I play it almost every day!

9. Vampire Diaries
I've made it to season three! This show is so gripping- every episode is a new problem for the cast and I can't get enough!

10. My Mom!
This lovely lady turned 50 just yesterday! She is such an amazing person (maybe I'm biased because she's my mom haha). She is always there for me and knows exactly what to say. I've been struggling a lot this month because of stress and anxiety and she is always there for a phone call no matter what time of day.

Goals

1. Strengthen my faith: explore spirituality
This has been such a beauty journey to take on this month. I have been able to place my faith in the universe and the greater plan.

2. Love my body: don't weigh myself all month
I failed. I weighed myself twice... However I didn't freak out or obsess over the numbers which is something I'm really proud of.

3. Explore new creative mediums: make a sculpture with clay
I did this.. I'm not sharing the picture of it because it is dismal haha. I didn't enjoy sculpting at all and it's not something I will do again.

4. Find more joy: wake up and immediately smile
This is something I think I will continue doing for the rest of my life. It has helped with my moods infinitely and it just sets the day off in the exact right way.

5. Have an open heart: write mom a thank you letter
I can't wait until I'm home to give her the letter I wrote her. It was such a cathartic experience to write all the things I was feeling and to get my thanks out on paper.

April Goals
1. Strengthen my faith: read a book on spirituality
2. Love my body: appreciate my nude body in the mirror daily
3. Explore new creative mediums: sketch something
4. Find more joy: enjoy my last month in Ottawa best I can
5. Have an open heart: be honest

I hope you enjoyed reading through my monthly favourites and goals! March has been such a hectic month and I'm very much looking forward to April. Hopefully it will be a little more clam. 

What have you been loving this month? Do let me know in a comment!

Thanks for reading & check back again to see what KatieDidd, xo

Flashbacks of February | Goals & Favourites

Favourites

1. Netflix

I'm so late to the party here. I just got Netflix this month. I've been loving the series that Netflix has to offer as well as the wide selection of movies! It's so convenient and really affordable. Love it. 

2. Prison Break

One of the series I've been watching on Netflix is Prison Break... like binge watching haha. I just love this show! Basically it's about this guy Michael who's brother was wrongfully convicted of murder and is on death row for it. Michael gets himself put into jail to try and break his brother out. I'm almost finished season one already! It's so gripping; every episode leaves you needing to watch the next.

3. Pillow Talk by Zayn

When I first listened to and watched the video for this song I was not a fan. Like at all. I gave it another listen just for good measure (because I mean, it's Zayn haha) and I loved it! I find that whenever I listen to the song whilst watching the video I hate it. The video is awful. But I have been obsessed with this song!

4. Flannel/Plaid Shirts

I'm a country girl through and through so I think my love for plaid is in my DNA. I think they're so easy to wear. They go with any colour of jeans, they can be buttoned up or open over another shirt, tied around your waist etc. I think they're definitely making come back for sure.

5. Essie's Devil's Advocate

I really like the look of dark nails but I'm not a fan of going for a straight black. This nail polish is an extremely dark purple and looks stunning!

6. Red Pepper Flakes

Love me a bit of heat in my food! These red pepper flakes are so convenient- just shake them on to eggs, rice, meat, veggies, etc- and kick up any meal!

7. Folgers Instant Coffee

I know what you're thinking... GROSS! But hear me out. I don't have time to wait for coffee to percolate in the morning, but coffee is a must for me. I went on the hunt for a good instant coffee and came up with Folgers as a winner. It honestly tastes like brewed coffee! No comparison to French Press or anything, but hey, it'll do.

8. Old Churches

We were given an assignment to photograph interior architecture for our portfolio which struck this new love of mine. I really like the way old churches look and the sort of eery vibe they possess. 

9. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

I can't put this book down. I'm not one for staying up late but there have been quite a few nights that I've been up past midnight reading this novel. It's such an honest and raw book which I really love. I'm about three quarters finished- I'm at that stage where I want to keep reading but I don't at the same time because I don't want the book to end!

Reviewing My February Goals

1. Strengthen my faith: Question my beliefs and ask myself why

I definitely did this throughout February. I think I have really compounded what I believe and what I don't believe. I've focused a lot on the why this past month- why do I believe what I believe? I think I've made so much progress.

2. Love my body: Make time for yoga 3+ times per week

I failed. I did yoga maybe once per week and even that was hard to squeeze in. The teaches of my program revealed that February is the busiest and hardest month in the entirety of my program. I felt it.

3. Explore new creative mediums: Paint something abstract

Not so abstract, but I felt the inspiration and I went with it. I'm really happy with the way it turned out.

4. Find more joy: Stop hiding my true self from others

My friendships have grown so much from my honesty this month. I feel so much closer to the friends I have here and I'm so thankful that they are able to accept me for who I am instead of who I was trying to be.

5. Have an open heart: Accept and love myself

Coming from a small town filled with small minded people, I spent a lot of my life pretending to want the things that I thought I should want. By revealing my true self and receiving nothing but positivity I have found a lot of comfort in who I am. Accepting myself and what I want from life has allowed me to make the decision to complete the second year of my photography studies at the college back home. Ottawa is amazing but I know that my heart lies back home, that's where I belong and I'm very much looking forward to moving back in April.

Setting my March Goals

1. Strengthen my faith: explore spirituality

2. Love my body: don't weigh myself all month

3. Explore new creative mediums: make a sculpture with clay

4. Find more joy: wake up and immediately smile

5. Have an open heart: write mom a thank you letter

I hope you all had a wonderful February and I wish you all well for March! If you're in college or uni... 6 more weeks baby!! :D What have you been loving through February? Do let me know in a comment! Also, always looking for TV series and book suggestions!

Thanks for reading & check back again to see what KatieDidd, xo