Relax, Rejuvenate and Unwind

It is easy to get caught up in the busyness of life. Somehow the time gets away from us and our to do lists just keep getting longer. I tend to loose track of the things I need to do to keep myself at my best when my life gets hectic. It is important to recognize how hard we work, and to give ourselves credit when credit is due. Sometimes it is worth treating ourselves. At the end of my school term, I was feeling fatigued, stressed-out, and worn thin- definitely not my best self. I was lucky that my semester wrapped up early! Despite how awesome it was to be done early, the days leading up to the end were madness. So what did I do to treat myself for my hard work? I booked a trip.
 
When I heard that my exams would be finished by early December I couldn’t help but book a flight to Ontario to visit my boyfriend, family, and friends! I was excited to spend two weeks there before coming back to Nova Scotia for our first family Christmas in our new home.  This blog captures some highlights from this trip. Thank you to all those who made my trip to Ontario so special. Thank you for your kindness, your generosity, and your open arms! 

​Traveling with Friends!
 
My housemate, Jill and I were lucky enough to finish the semester on the same day and booked the same flight. Traveling with friends is always so much fun. If you haven’t had the opportunity to do so yet, I would highly recommend it. Traveling with Jill made the time fly by and made the start of the trip full of good times and laughter! Thanks Jill for kicking my trip off right!

The Best Reunion
 
The hardest part about moving across the country this year was saying goodbye to the boyfriend, friends, and family. I couldn’t wait to arrive in Toronto; Dan was patiently waiting to pick me up. We hadn’t seen each other in 4 months! After some exploration of the airport we found one another and I felt right back at home! Dan planned such an extravagant itinerary for my trip back and I couldn’t be happier with how it panned out. Thank you Dan for making my trip home so exceptional.

When You’re Stressed- Blow Off Some Steam
 
We kicked off my stay in Ontario with a bang! Dan introduced me to airsoft last year and I have been hooked ever since! For those of you who haven’t tried it I would highly recommend it. Airsoft is a sport that uses bb guns to simulate battle combat. For those of you who have played paintball, it is a similar concept- but Airsoft is gnarlier in my opinion! Anyways, I got to play twice throughout my stay and it was amazing. Having the opportunity to play twice in a short period of time allowed me to see my improvements and helped build up my confidence.
 
We played at two different locations and both times we played, we met great players. The Airsoft community is a great one to be a part of. Participants are diverse in age, skill, and experience. People are supportive of one another and the staging room is always full of laughter and highlight stories from the battles. The second time we played, we met a group of folks from Burlington, our home city. This group was awesome to play with. They ended up exchanging contact information with Dan and are now connected for future play. Airsoft is a great place to meet great people from all over.
 
Airsoft is one of my favourite ways to blow off steam. It is physically demanding, and requires mental focus. The adrenaline rush from Airsoft always distracts me from stress. Airsoft allows me to be present and be immersed in the game.  

​Since We Were in the Mood of Blowing Off Steam…
 
Okay, you all need to try this! After airsoft, Dan and I made a trip to Urban Tactical. At Urban Tactical, there is a shooting range where you can purchase different shooting packages and a range officer will teach you how to shoot different guns at targets. This is a cool experience, as you don’t need a license to shoot the different packages. Prior to this, my gun shooting experience consisted of a wide range of water guns, Nerf guns, paintball guns, and airsoft guns haha, but never a real gun. The idea of shooting a real gun was slightly intimidating at first, but that quickly changed when we started!
 
The Urban Tactical range officers are knowledgeable and make safety the top priority. It was fun to see some father and son bonding, some couples bonding, and some friends bonding over the experience. Our range officer was awesome. He was not only funny but also gave clear instructions and support. My first shot was a bull’s-eye and I was hooked! After you have shot your package worth of ammo, you get to take home your targets! These packages make for great gifts! 

After the Excitement it was Time to Relax and Did We Ever!
 
Dan surprised me with a trip to Blue Mountain as a Christmas present! During our stay, we were able to make a trip to the Scandinave Spa.  This spa was the best experience I have had to date with its off-the-grid feel. This spa is known for its outdoor baths and hydrotherapy. We were able to spend the full day exploring the outdoor baths, saunas, and steam rooms, as well as the massage services. I have never been more at peace. It was lightly snowing outside and it was beautiful. Upon arrival everyone is given a big, comfy, white robe. You get to explore the different baths at your leisure. After spending the day at the spa, I was the most relaxed I have ever been- all my stress was gone. I couldn’t believe how much the hydrotherapy worked for me. The spa has a ‘honour the silence rule’ which makes the experience that much more peaceful. I would go back to the Scandinave Spa in a heartbeat.
 
If you are battling stress please try hydrotherapy- it works wonders. It doesn’t have to be at a luxurious spa to work! Try running yourself a bath at home with some eucalyptus- this is my favourite stress buster! I don’t have a bath in my apartment so having a full day to do nothing but bath hop was a dream come true. We spent the rest of our time exploring the village, and city! Thank you Dan for the best surprise ever! 

Other fun highlights!
 
When being home I was able to see one of my bestfriends, Asha and was able to catch up over some yummy food! Asha, it was so lovely to see you and I missed your hugs!
 
Dan’s Mum, Kimberly, brought a group of us to the Christmas Market in the Distillery District! We enjoyed amazing food, and immersed ourselves in the Christmas atmosphere!
 
Family time! I was able to see my Aunt Alison when I was home. Seeing her made me feel at home too. Aunt Alison, thank you for the lovely chat over some delicious tea. I missed you so much! Glad to hear the family is doing well! Xoxo

Overall, this trip was jammed-packed and I wouldn’t change one thing about it. I had an amazing time visiting and everyone made it so welcoming and memorable. Anytime you are able to treat yourself to a trip I would recommend it. Traveling to see the people you love is always worth the trip! Thank you again to all of you who made my two week vacay an amazing trip to say the least.
 
Stay kind and unwind,
 
Annie