Blogmas | Free & Cheap festive things to do in TO

Posted on December 4, 2022 by Bhanu Misra Marya

Toronto is a great city and there are no end to the fun, festive and free things to do around the city during the holiday season! Be sure to bundle up and be sure to check out the list below on some ideas on how to enjoy the season (on a budget)!

*NOTE* images are not mine and have been referenced below.

Distillery District

The last time I went to the Winter Village was 2019, and the photographer in me wants to re-create this magic through my lens! This place is full of beautiful sights (every corner is perfect for a selfie) and tastes (thank you coffee and chocolate)! Entrance is free on weeknights before Dec 27th + children under 9 are free of charge!

Holiday Yorkville Village

Yorkville is beautiful any time of year, but having it all lit up makes it amazing. The best photo op would be in the light tunnel! And the christmas tree totally gives Rockefeller Center vibes!

Skating at Nathan Phillips Square

This rink is ALWAYS jam packed so keep the little ones close to you and on the edge of the rink. The best part about skating here (other than – it’s FREE as long as you bring your own skates and snacks) is the MUSIC. Whether it’s 90s christmas pop or top 40, you’ll have a great time whipping across :)

Hudson’s Bay & Fairmount Royal York Hotel Windows

Miniature displays and twinkling lights? Sign me up! I’ve yet to check our the Royal York windows but I’ve heard that they are enchanting. Grab your mocha or hot chocolate and enjoy the stroll past these beautiful displays!

Want more? Follow my Blogmas 2022 journey here!

Blogmas | Las Vegas

Posted on December 2, 2022 by Bhanu Misra Marya

We recently went to Las Vegas! This is actually my 5th trip to sincity (and 3rd trip with at least 1 kiddo!)

We tried to do some new things this time. So sharing some of what we got up to! All activities are family friendly (aka dooable for the kidos and the grandparents!

Hike in Zion National Park

After our Banff Trip, we knew our kids enjoyed hiking in nature. So we weren’t going to let a 3hr drive stop us from experience that is Zion National Park. There is a variety of hikes for all level of hikers but of course we stuck to the easy paved hikes. I would have loved to spend another day or two there but doing the lower Emrald pools hike was a great taste of Zion. The views are breath taking. And going in November meant you weren’t dealing with the desert heat.

Venice Gondola Ride

This quick copy cat ride of the famous gondola experience in Venice is a great activity for any age. This is my 3rd ride, but my youngest one did this for the first time when she was 5 months old!
Although the ride is super quick (under 15 min) there is an opportunity to learn about vegas, hear a beautiful serenade and enjoy some time in a boat on the water (always relaxing)!

Flamingo Habitat

This place is a vibe! In the middle of the Las Vegas strip is a gorgeous outdoor setting with palm, trees, waterfalls and cute animals! This completely free activity is like a trip to a mini zoo. Kids of all ages will love the animals and watching the fishes (which are mesmerizing to watch on the bridge).

Seven Magic Mountains

7MM is an outdoor art display of stacked colourful boulders. It’s a great place to do an IG transition and they are even safe enough to climb (carefully ofcourse! for the perfect shot)
I did read if you got at 9am, you’ll beat the crowds, but we went mid afternoon to get the most sunshine!

Cereal Killersz

The Cereal Killerz Kitchen is actually a Cereal Bar. They have every cereal ever made + some rare ones that were only available for a short time and then of course some you haven’t head of! The best part was that they have alternative milk options! You can a classic cereal and milk bowl, or a millkshake. I would definite go back here next time!

Want more? Continue reading my Blogmas 2022 adventure here!

So glad I can come back to my self-care rituals

Posted on February 4, 2022 by Bhanu Misra Marya

This week was a great reminder as to why I need self care rituals. On the days that I am pushed to my breaking point, by situations, by people, by context – it is my self care rituals that give me peace.

My rituals are the the part of my day that make sure when I am out there taking care of everyone and everything else – that I also make time for myself and my wellness.

Self care rituals are THE FORMULA to support your mental wellbeing.

It’s a built in way that you do something for your mind, your body and your soul everyday.

Another reminder: Get enough sleep, have gratitude and always be present (aka put your phone down and you head up)

How your goals doing?

Posted on September 8, 2021 by Bhanu Misra Marya

*said with Joey Tribbiani voice*

I’m here to interrupt your double vaxxed/tired mom summer with the news that – there are 115 days left until 2022.

Yep, One Hundred Fifteen Days.

I was definitely feeling like I was hitting a wall in terms of my goals. That’s not to say I haven’t had a winning few months I just feel like I was losing focus and slowing down. And I don’t want to do that.

So I started vision boarding for the last quarter of the year, and I mean WHY NOT?

These are my goals and I need to find my motivation. Sometimes adding pen to paper (or picture to board) can help revitalize and re-engerize me. But I also have to remind myself that creating a vision board is just the first step. I then have to come up with actionable steps by month/week to get those goals accomplished. I’m going with the OKRs (being specific and having multiple key results can really drive it home for me).

My point to this whole post is that you DON’T need to wait till MONDAY or the START of the MONTH or the the NEW YEAR. (Although if that is your thing, September is a great month to get back to it!)

Another thing we (well me and you, the collective we) need to get better at is sharing our goals. I’m a little torn on sharing progress (sometimes it makes more sense to keep your head down/disappear while you get sh!t done). But something has to be said about putting your big dreams out into the universe (sounds woo woo because it is, IYKYK)!

So here it is, my Q4 vision board ++ some tips about getting back on track with your goals!

Vision Board, Goal Setting, Idea to Execution,

Goal Setting: It’s important to know what you want to accomplish
Plan your year, months, weeks and days. Goals without a plan is a wish!
Get enough: sleep, exercise, meditate, drink more water, eat what your body needs journal and find time to relax
Be grateful: Always looking at future goals can cause fear, anxiety and stress. Practicing gratitude can balance that
Be disciplined: resist the urge to snack, check social media or skip a workout. Focus on your activity at hand – that’s how progress is made
Get to the other side of consistency: whether you see great results or no results – everything is in the hard work
Invest in yourself: Read books, seek mentors and growth opportunities. You don’t have to figure it out on your own. Find someone who has what you are trying to achieve and learn from them

Keep coming back to these principals when you feel stuck or even every day to make sure you stay on track.

15 Mid-Week Mood Boosters

Posted on September 24, 2020 by Bhanu Misra Marya

Sharing a mid week list of mood boosters + some of my creative photography! I truly loved capturing the image of the flowers and the lines of shadowed light. I need to get better at prioritizing capturing creative photography everyday! Scroll down to see the image as well as a list of mood boosters. I hope that one or two works for you!

Read 5 pages or a chapter of a book
Put on a cute outfit and take some mirror selfies
Make a list or a do a brain dump
Write a letter to your future self about how proud you are of your accomplishments
Tidy up some space in your home
Setting up personal BHAGs and breaking them down into executable steps/milestones
Hug everyone in your family
Take a warm shower or a bath if you have enough time
Go for a walk or run (make sure a portion of it includes being in a forest)
Meditate
Use the pomodoro effect to focus on completing a piece of work
Make a vision board
Write down what you are grateful for
Drink an entire bottle of water
Do something creative

5 Ways to beat the winter blues & a trip to TO Christmas Market

Posted on December 13, 2019 by Bhanu Misra Marya

When the whether dips, it’s not uncommon to feel seasonal depression. With the sun no longer shining as much, the need to bundle up all.the.time and the persistent search of a warm getaway – it’s easy to lose perspective. I am learning to give in a little bit. Enjoy the warm soups, choose sautéed veggies over cold salads and drink as much tea as I want.

Here are a few other ways to enjoy the colder months…

Get cozy: fleece PJs (matching with family members? even better), fuzzy house coat, warm slippers and turning on the fireplace…!

A mug of your favourite warm beverage: Tea, coffee multiple times a day. Better enjoyed with a friend.

Watch all the best movies or series: Ok so it’s true, Friends is leaving Netflix but there are tons of Holiday movies to enjoy this time of year.

A warm cozy bed: I love love love the feeling of getting into bed with clean sheets after a hot shower. Switching to a duvet at this time of year can be wonderful.

Being grateful: Every morning and every night or really any time of day when you feel your mood slip. Take a moment to breath and give thanks.

Another important thing to do in winter? Get out of your house. For a walk around the block, to an seasonal event or a winter activity. Take a little more planning but you really won’t regret it.