Christmas in Toronto

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas,

It's not over just yet, there is still time to eat all the food you possibly can before you can feel guilty about it in January. So I'll fill you in on my Christmas. As some of you may know, I didn't go home to Ireland for Christmas. I'm not going to lie, it wasn't easy. For anyone who lives away from home, you will know the feeling of wanting to be at home at certain times either to see someone you love or even just to get your favourite takeaway. The two don't compare obviously but missing certain foods is a huge deal for people who live outside of Ireland.

There have been times I've felt homesick since I've been here (not as bad as I thought I'd be though) but Christmas time was particularly difficult. Seeing friends in pictures on nights out, watching how excited friends here were to return home for the celebrations, missing out on traditions like getting the tree with my mum, listening to a John Denver CD in my living room while dancing like a freak or just watching my nieces face light up as she opens her presents were all parts that I missed out on. 

All was not lost however as Christmas Day in Toronto was quite magical, full of lovely moments and some surprises. To make things special I played Santa this year and woke up at 3.30am on Christmas Eve night to put out stockings and some presents for Parker just like Santa would. It was nice to surprise him but he won when it came to surprises as he had been hiding presents that my mum gave him back in November for me. Naturally I was bawling and after I stopped I realised how blessed I was to have both of them in my life.

After exchanging presents, munching on some chocolate santas while The Grinch was on in the background, we begun preparing for the dinner. Parker and I cooked the turkey and ham, I also made a raspberry and white chocolate cheesecake and the other apartment made starters which was a gorgeous prawn pil pil and they also did all the vegetables, stuffing and potatoes.Overall it was a great success, so much effort was put in by all six of us left here and I was very proud of us all.

Skyping the family was the closest we got to being part of our families Christmas Day and although emotions were running high I enjoyed having a different Christmas with friends and someone I love. The weather has been very mild this winter and not at all what we expected, so excitement kicked in when it snowed on Monday night. It is still very mild for this time of year so I'll keep you posted when I start complaining about the snow and it being -20. 

Hope you all had a great Christmas surrounded by family and friends. Here is to a new year full of adventure.

Talk soon xx

Zita J

Christmas Week

It's Christmas Week everyone, yay!

My weekend was spent spending quality time with Parker as we celebrated being together five years. Christmas films, Christmas markets and staying in out of the cold.It was just what I needed.It's starting to get very chilly at the moment with a real feel of minus 9 but apparently it's above average for this time of year, so I'll count myself lucky for now I suppose.

I received two packages from home yesterday and I'm starting to get excited about this week even though I'm not going to be home. It's going to be different but the friends that have stayed and myself are getting into the spirit of things and having Christmas dinner together on Christmas Day and exchanging gifts so that should be nice.

To everyone back home, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year. Surround yourself with the ones you love and enjoy every minute of it.

Merry Christmas from Toronto

Talk soon xx

Zita J

'Tis The Season

Hey,

Welcome to Monday, don't worry it is nearly over. Hang in there. So this week I have started my proper shift at my new job. I am feeling positive about the whole thing and  I am getting use to my new role and this new experience that I face. I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the Friday feeling around the office and knowing I had 2 days off to myself. Do you hear me? "Around the office", law de daw, still getting use to the fact I work in an office haha.

When I think about it though, all my previous jobs even since I was 17 have been jobs where I had to wear a uniform. Childcare required a uniform, my recent hostess job required a uniform and so on. Now I finally get to dress as I wish and feel like a fancy pants, its the little things that keep me happy as you can see. I know the privilege will probably wear off when on a Sunday night I have no clean or ironed shirts and I can't just wear a tracksuit pants into work, For now I am getting a thrill out of dressing up during the week.

So as I had the weekend to myself, the celebrations and countdown to Christmas have begun. On Friday, my friends and I attempted the 12 pubs of Christmas. We went to a new location where we knew there were a lot of bars but I am embarrassed to say we only did a pathetic 5 pubs (I am sorry Ireland for letting you down). In our defense however we started late enough and we weren't as familiar with the bars compared to our usual spots, we didn't know what to expect.

One bar in particular that we went in to, I quickly took off my flashing antlers as we realised it was a fancy Portuguese wine bar. We didn't stay long in that place as you can imagine. Overall a great night was spent with friends to celebrate our first Christmas in Toronto and a last night out with a few of them as they head home for Christmas, not jealous at all:-( I am going to try make the most of the Christmas celebrations here as its new and something different to other years. I know already I am going to find it difficult not being home for Christmas but then again spending it with someone I love and enjoying it with friends is also what its all about. Emotions are running high as we received our first care package from home courtesy of Parker's parents. It had some really special presents inside and of course, me being me..I cried when we opened it. Some things never change! Have a great week everyone;-)

Talk soon xx

Zita J 

A little update..

Hey,

So as you may have seen from my Facebook page I have been a busy woman the past two weeks. The reason being is because I got a new job...woohoo. I have been working in the my other job as a hostess since October but if I am being perfectly honest it was not working out for me. I got on really well with everyone, I did a really good job and I enjoyed my shifts but financially it wasn't feasible and if I am honest working nights and weekends...sucked.

Worried about money and wanting more stability I decided to get onto a recruiter for help and within a week I had a new job. I was delighted that it all happened so quickly. So the job is in an insurance broker that operates worldwide. My title is print production associate. I am only training at the moment so I am still getting to know my role but to explain my day to day work, I receive print projects from different clients and mange any requests they may have. I prepare these projects from the initial phase to production and then distribution. The role is both customer service orientated but also technical.

Initially I was nervous about the technical side of the job and being on computers all day as it is very new to me, but even after two days I am getting the hang of it and feeling more confident. It's a Monday to Friday job, starting at 10.30am and finishing at 7pm so I get a lie in, in the morning and on a Friday evening there is still plenty of time to get ready and go drinking... I have my priorities right don't I?

The job is also a 12 minute walk from my apartment so I am very lucky. although my last job was an 8 minute walk, ughh so that's 4 minutes extra exercise in the morning haha. I am finishing up in my old job this week, so I will be wrecked by Friday. I have to get over it though as my friends and I are planning on doing the 12 pubs or whatever ones we find.

Have a great week,

Talk soon xx

Zita J

It's all about..My Sister

This has now become a new tradition, to write poems for Birthdays.Today is my sister Cathy's Birthday.This time last year was super exciting because she turned the big 30 and we threw her a surprise party and then the two of us headed to London for a few days. This year she gets to spend it in her new home, which for anyone who doesn't follow her blog Turquoise Flamingo , you must! You'll see how creative she is and how amazing her new home looks, which I wish I could see in real life.

Today I miss another family Birthday. I love Birthdays! I think they should always be celebrated and you should do something nice for yourself. So Cathy, I hope you put your feet up and get spoiled. Sorry I am missing it but I hope you like the small pressie I sent home. Thank you for being a fantastic big sister, for your advice and guidance. Thank you for showing me how through anything you can run a business and raise a fabulous child all at the same time. Hope you like my weird poem, that has been inspired by Mary had a Little Lamb.. I have no idea why.

Cathy had a little girl

and a vintage shop.

Cathy had it online too

so the dream would never stop.

Cathy asked for a girl,

She was told it was a boy.

But when the doctors got it wrong,

It filled her heart with joy.

So Cathy raised this little girl,

with the help of Mr Louis.

She put a tea towel on her face,

when the nappies were too gooey.

She gagged sometimes, then laughed a lot

at the cutie on the floor.

Then picked her up and kissed her lots,

and loved her even more.

You see Cathy is special

and very talented too.

She's creative and she's smart,

and could design a house for you.

Cathy knows that on this day,

it means eating cake and some sweets,

so they gathered around in their new home,

to enjoy the cake and treats.

But something was missing for Cathy today,

A person so fantastic and fun.

She's pretty and she's great 

and only 25 years young.

"Maybe next year" she thought, that Taylor Swift would turn up,

They would drink wine

 have some beer..what a plan!

I'm funny, I know but remember, 

you rock from your sister and number one fan!

Happy Birthday xx

Love you lots

Zita J

Niagara Tour

Happy Monday, hope you had a nice weekend. As some of you may know my Mum came to visit me on Thursday. It was all emotion as I surprised her in the airport. I told her I was working but instead myself and Parker traveled to surprise her. It was no shock that I got teary eyed as I saw her. On Friday I showed her around the city, mainly places to eat as that's all I seem to do here. On Saturday morning we did a bit of shopping before I headed to work, later that night she popped in and had some food and drinks where I work. Then yesterday we had a bright and early 8am start as we headed to Niagara Falls. We went with a company called Niagara Toronto Tours and I could not recommend it more.

The package we got was $99 each and it included:

• Pick up from our apartment at 8am.
• Driver/witty tour guide 
• First stop was wine tasting in a Niagara winery, yes I did drink wine at 9.30am but it was just after lunch time in Ireland so it was totally acceptable.
• Second stop was to the historical town of Niagara on the lake (where there are amazing bakeries may I add) and is so picturesque. 
• Third stop was to view the worlds largest natural whirlpool and rapids.
• Last but certainly not least the fourth stop was Niagara Falls.Which did not disappoint.
• Included in this package you also get the Hornblower Boat Cruise right up next to the falls.(Bring a raincoat, wellies, overalls and an UMBRELLA! Don't really, that would be weird but if you think a tiny poncho will keep you dry on this boat you are sadly mistaken. So much fun though, so its well worth getting soaked for.
• After 3 hours free time, where you can take as many pictures as you like, eat some average tourist food, gamble at the casinos or just enjoy the sunshine and mild temperatures, which was very surprising and very welcoming in Canada during November, you are then brought back to your apartment door, tired but very happy that you got up early that morning.

Overall, we had a really great day. The weather was amazing so we picked a prefect day to go and I got to see one of the seven wonders of the world with my Mum and boyfriend, what more could you want? Below are some pictures of our day. Hope you enjoy!

The last one is my favourtie picture that I took of the day. Now off to spend more time with my Mum, who just made a roast..I am very excited!

Talk soon xx

Zita J

Its all about....My Mum

Seeing as its my Mum's Birthday tomorrow I said I would do a little appreciation post about her just like I did for my niece, Nancy. For anyone lucky enough to know my Mum she is an incredible women and some say a MILF, so I am hoping she passes on those genes. We are very alike and get into fits of giggles especially during times when we shouldn't, like phone calls to Sky or Eircom or Mass! 

We rarely argue as we both end up laughing. Even when she taught me to drive, most people get in fights with their parents during this stressful time but the two of us use to nearly wet ourselves up in Frankfield industrial estate. I have learned so much from her, she is so calm, patient, classy, creative and could sell ice to the Eskimos. She is an inspiration and If I am half the women she is when I am her age I would be honoured. I would say I am sad that I am missing her Birthday but I'm not because I can now count on one hand when I will see her next! After 4 months of being apart (the longest I have ever been away from her) I get to see her in a few days! I can not wait to see her and show her Toronto. As I like writing poems, I decided to do what I enjoy and try write a poem for her in honour of her Birthday tomorrow so here it goes...

From the day that we met little did I know,

The things that you'd teach me, 

the love you would show.

You've taught me to talk, to jump,skip and crawl

and as I've got bigger I have learned to stand tall.

We've been through a lot as you've watched me grow,

You continue to guide me when its high and its low.

You're strong and you're brave

You're beautiful and smart

You're confident and funny

and have a huge heart.

We are so alike, so emotional , so strange,

and I hope the bond between us won't change.

When I followed my dreams,

it meant being apart,

It was hard on us both and it broke my heart.

But I know that you love me and want me to be happy,

 I'm still your little girl...

I'm just not wearing a nappy!

Happy Birthday Mommy

Love you lots xx

Zita J

Halloween

Hey Everyone,

Hope you all had a great Halloween. As you may know from a post I did before titled falling in love with Toronto, I love Halloween and I must say it did not disappoint this year. It was great to experience Halloween in another city, to see how they do things and see how they celebrate it. I was a little worried that I may look like a fool if I dressed up over here especially seeing as my previous handmade choices have been quite embarrassing but I soon learned that Canadians also love dressing up and I must add there was lots of competition walking around the place. Even the animals were dressed up!

This year I wanted to dress as something scary, I know I should every year as its Halloween but seeing as I worked with children for the past three years I couldn't really scare the crap out of three year olds. I decided to go as jigsaw from Saw. I am not sure why I just got it into my head last week so I decided to try it. I knew the hardest part would be the make up but I think it turned out ok. See what you think?

Parker and I had some of our friends over to our apartment for a Halloween party and they all dressed up, which I was very happy about. We slightly decorated the apartment and I made cupcakes and some mint chocolate covered marshmallows, which were so simple to make and were devoured quickly.

Overall a great night was had and of course a pizza nursed me back to health the next day! Below are a few photos of the night. Hope you all had a very scary and fun Halloween too....

Talk soon xx

Zita J

I am speaking English I swear!

Hey Everyone,

Hope you all had a nice Bank Holiday weekend back in Ireland. I always love the Jazz weekend so I am gutted I missed out this year. I was working at the weekend but I did get to go out Saturday night to join friends for one of their Birthdays. So just a little update for you all. The job is going well. I got some great feedback today  and they seem to be really happy with me which is great. I am still getting used to how different it is, the hours etc but so far so good.

What I am going to talk about today is the fact that people are having a hard time understanding me. Its kind of funny really, sometimes its because I talk too fast but most of the time its because I use completely different words to what they normally use.This post is a little guide for anyone who has either experienced this when in Canada or for anyone planning on moving here...

• Rubbish: This isn't a word here, they have no idea what you are saying when you ask, "will I take out the rubbish?" Its Garbage!
• Hoover: I didn't realize hoover was a company name for what they understand as a vacuum cleaner! I am never going to be able to call it anything else though. Its a bloody hoover!
• Toilet/Bathroom: They do understand when you say it but you get some odd looks so its the washroom/restroom if you need to do your wees and poos.
• Jumper: I still laugh when I think about this one.. Me and Parker were doing a promotional job a few weeks ago and he left his jumper on one of the chairs. He asked the manger could he go back and get his jumper. The silence and blank stare was hilarious and I just shouted over..."Your SWEATER Parker". So if your looking for  something to keep you warm, get your sweaters out guys!
• Half Seven: I keep doing this when confirming reservations or giving someone the time. I say half seven, eight or whatever the time is and they can't for the life me figure out what I am talking about. Its Seven Thirty... This one I am really struggling with getting use to saying.
• Plaster: So today I cut me finger in work and asked for a plaster. They laughed and I figured out it was a band aid I was looking for."'Plaster is for the walls Zita". They are right though.
• Gawk: Ok, I'll let this one slide as even people from different parts of Ireland might not understand that gawk is another word for vomit. So when I said, " someone got the gawk", I guess its fair if they don't know what I am talking about.

To be fair when you think about it, the words they use make waaaay more sense then the ones we use. Like jumper, what the hell? You don't jump into it, why is it even called that? If I come back home using these words for awhile, forgive me..But for now I need to learn the way Canadians say things so I can communicate with the world!

Hope this guide helps others survive the communication barriers between us Irish and the Canadians.

Have a great week:-)

Talk soon xx

Zita J

FALL-ing in love with Toronto

Hope you all had a lovely weekend. I was working all weekend and I'm working tonight too so before I go get ready I said I would fill ye in on what I got up to on my day off last week. I want to try make the most of my days off especially before it starts to snow. At the moment the temperatures have dropped to about six degrees with a real feel of about three degrees. I think its very cold but every Canadian I say that too just laughs at me! I need to buy a seriously warm jacket and unfortunately due to my allergy to feathers ( ya I am a weirdo who cant breath properly if I am in close contact with feathers) I can't buy a jacket lined with goose feathers and apparently they are the warmest. It is lousy on Parker too though because he can't buy one either. I am sure we will find a non feather extremely warm jacket, so not panicking just yet!

So, on my day off last week we decided to take a trip to a place called High Park. I have heard about this place and to be honest I should of went during the summer but I am so glad I did make it there eventually. It spans 161 hectares and is both a natural and recreational park. It has sports facilities, a playground and even a small zoo. The main reason I wanted to go there this week was to see how pretty it looks during Autumn.

I know lots of people say they love Autumn but for me this time of year always holds a special place in my heart. Since I can remember, we used to transform our home into a haunted house and throw a party.We were the original nightmare realm! About a week before Halloween, we used to get ready for it. We made a fake graveyard in the garden. My dad use to make life size dummies by stuffing painter suits with insulation and he would put them around the house and garden. We would decorate the inside of the house and even have a smoke machine, no lights were allowed to be on, only candles! We would have a party with family and friends and everyone had to dress up. It was the best time of year.

As Halloween was so important to me as a child. I am trying to do as much Halloween/ Autumn things as possible. Visiting High Park was a good start! Walking around this city and seeing the beautiful colours of autumn. Watching children dressed in costumes already and even some adults, seeing houses decorated on the outside (never as good as ours was) is making me FALL in love with Toronto even more.Get it, Fall..another word for Autumn! I'm very clever. Haha.

Have a great week:-)

Talk soon xx

Zita J