Wednesday, December 04, 2013

Afternoon Bliss

 My idea of the perfect outing, that doesn't cost much money or effort on my part would have to be exactly what I did on Saturday afternoon...
 Rob is a volunteer fire fighter for our community. His title is "volunteer" but really, all of fire fighters are paid on call. So every time they answer a call, they are paid a rate. Say Rob made $15 per call. As soon as he gets to the hall and signs in, he automatically gets $15.  I believe he gets a bit more if he is on the call for longer. I'm sure of it, but I can't quite remember the specifics. Once a year he is paid right before Christmas for an entire year's worth of fire calls. It works out really nice because it's like a little bonus cheque before the holidays! Every year he gets to spend some of that cheque on himself, obviously. He earned it and deserves a chunk of that money.

Via
 This year he wanted to go to the mall, without me in tow tapping my toe in impatience and buy himself some clothes. He still wanted me to come along for the drive, but I decided to go to Chapters for a browse and a read. Chapters is a Canadian version of Barnes and Noble- for you Americans out there and for everyone else; it's a big, glorious book store. Aka- my personal idea of heaven. Or, the perfect way to spend an afternoon. Rob wanted Alina with him; bonus! So I was really happy to escape my little family and have some me time!

 I browsed in the gift department which is always really enjoyable for me. There are always really cool gadgets you can buy, especially around the holidays. They were selling marble cubes to act as ice cubes for hard alcohol drinks. So, instead of using ice and having the ice dilute the booze, you have marble cubes. Talk about hardcore drinking! I snapped a few shots of some of the products I thought were entertaining..


  But the best part of my little outing, was when I went to the Starbucks attached to the book store and bought a Chai Latte, a little treat and a seat to read in....! I obviously never get out much, but this was seriously such a great time for me. I started off in a seat in the middle of everyone and later when people left I relocated to the comfy couch facing everyone. I was so content, sipping my drink and reading my book. But, I was also really aware of everyone around me. Normally that would bother me while I'm trying to read. But because it was the first real shopping weekend for Christmas there was a buzz of excitement in the air. It was busy, but in a enjoyable, joyful way. I loved every minute of it. I read, I took pictures, I slyly people watched. Ahh, pure bliss. As much as I yearn to get a moment to myself everyday, I found that I missed my little family. I think I was away from them for about an hour. I received a text from Rob of Alina in her new jacket he bought for her. The image just brought a smile to my face and when he asked me how much longer I thought I'd be, I gladly told him that I was finished. I ended up walking over to the mall and meeting up with them for some lunch. It was so nice to have an hour to myself, but it was that much better reuniting with my people.

 You always want what you don't have... But always remember to appreciate what you do have because everyday is a gift. Truly.

(BUT, it is important to get time away because if you don't... mama might snap.)

What is your idea of the best way to spend some "me" time?


12 comments:

Areeba said...

Woohoo! I'm glad you spent your time in my dream-me-time style, ahh just remove chai latte's part! My normal me-time is just to sit in my backyard on a 3 ft wall mostly in evening and paint my nails and read a book.
I must say that you & Rob are the coolest parents ever! The moustache would look so cute on Alina! ;)

Amanda said...

I'm glad you got to have some alone time! Reading in bed with a beverage next to me is my favorite quiet activity! X

Brianna said...

I just love getting away and reading for a while! Barnes and Noble is my FAVORITE store of all time! Ahhhh! Such precious time to yourself, but also great to realize that all that time with Rob and Alina is time you CHERISH, and miss when they're not around.

How absolutely adorable is your husband?! Wanting to go to the mall AND take Alina to buy her something?! Just melts my heart!

Deidre said...

About the same really. I used to go to Borders here in melbourne and sit and read whole books in the bookstore by myself then put them back on the shelf, like it was my own personal library. (I was careful not to crease the books).

Alex[andra] said...

That sounds like my way of spending alone time! There's something so relaxing about Chapters!

Anonymous said...

That is the perfect way to spend an hour of me time. It is my idea of heaven. Love Chapters! Haven't been in a while since the closest one to me now is an hour away. :( We have book stores in my city but it is not the same environment. More browse, buy and leave kind.

Love Alina's jacket. She is adorable.

Heather @ The Maritime Reader said...

WOW, that sounds like an absolutely heavenly afternoon!!

Noor Unnahar said...

This portrait of Rob and Alina is awesome . Why Haley is missing?
Reading and tea , are like my essential habits . I can't live without reading nor drinking tea . Whenever I need some "me-time" , I roll on couch and grab a cup of tea along with a book or tablet to read . It RELAXES everything!

Erin said...

Hahaha that coaster has me wishing I was Canadian! Hilarious. And that chunkamonk of a babe is the cutest little thing.

Anonymous said...

Yay! I'm so glad you got some me time in! How sweet of Rob to take Alina for a little while and give you some time off.

Me time is sitting on the sofa with my favorite show and no one asking questions or making comments on what is happening on the screen!!

Haley said...

YES! I love t.v. and being able to watch a good show OR a good movie. I like it when it lasts longer than an hour...!

And Rob would insist on having Alina when it comes to who gets her.. He works during the day and he only gets a few hours in the evenings with her. So when it's the weekend, she is with him- no questions! :) (Works out for me, juuuuust fine.)

Helene in Between said...

that does sound like a perfect little afternoon. and chai tea is my favorite! I love that he volunteers and how cool that he gets a check at the end of the year- hard to wait but it must be nice!