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Month: December 2019

Posted on December 16, 2019December 20, 2019

Christmas in Ottawa: 17 Things to Do Before the Holidays End

There’s still holiday magic in the air!

  • Ottawa
  • Ottawa-Gatineau Winter
 by ninanearandfar0 comment
Christmas in Ottawa: 17 Things to Do Before the Holidays End

Hi! I’m Nina, and welcome to Nina Near and Far – the Ottawa-based travel blog for people pursing career and academic goals. Nina Near and Far is about making the most of your time off, weekends, and vacation days by exploring you own city and taking short, adventure-packed trips.

Instagram post 2268651406885224504_56014037 It just so happened that a few days before we started to realize that things in were going to change a lot I was listening to one of my favourite audios. One segment in particular that starts off with a really funny story. I remembered the story but not the takeaway from the anecdote.⠀ ⠀ The author, Brené Brown, tells a story about claiming someone else’s cookies as her own after realizing she forgot to bring cookies for her daughter’s class party. She calls a friend to tell her about what happened and it leads to this conversation:⠀ ⠀ Friend on the phone ☎️ “You’re going into a nearly impossible weekend.”⠀ ⠀ Brené “What do you mean?”⠀ ⠀ ☎️ “You’re giving the commencement address. [Your daughter’s] got her ballet recital. The chances of you making it there are slim to none. And I know you think you will, but you’re probably not going to... it’s gonna be pretty half-ass all weekend.”⠀ ⠀ Brené “It can’t be.”⠀ ⠀ ☎️ “No, it’s gonna be. And so you’re gonna have to recalibrate. You’re just gonna have to put your best foot forward, be yourself, and let all this stuff go. You’re going to have a very, very imperfect and messy weekend.”⠀ ⠀ Session 3, 26:00 minutes in to The Power of Vulnerability by Brené Brown. HIGHLY RECOMMEND on @audible - insightful but also so funny.⠀ ⠀ When I heard this 2 weeks ago I thought... it was good reminder but not what I had remembered. ⠀ ⠀ And then everything started to change and suddenly that was exactly what I needed. You’re going to have a very, very imperfect messy... month? More months? I don’t know. What I do know is that on Monday my game plan was a walk every morning, a workout every evening, post interactive and engaging stories every day, and get bang off loads of productive work hours in between. My friend’s wedding (in Europe) in May is looking really uncertain. The reality has been that I’m caught up on my work but not ahead, I’ve gone for 2 walks this week, and I went to bed at 6:30PM on Tuesday with a fever, and I haven’t posted stories since Tuesday.⠀ ⠀ I am opting to be okay with that. Who else is having a very, very imperfect messy week? 🥰 #myottawa #canadagram #explorecanada #ottawalife #ottawaphoto #passionpassport
Instagram post 2266504901122376558_56014037 Do you recognize this tiny town? This is Lunenburg, Nova Scotia! It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the filming location for Locke & Key (an excellent Netflix original).⠀ ⠀ 🐚 Lunenburg was established in 1753 and has retained its original layout and overall appearance.⠀ ⠀ 🐚 The Bluenose and Bluenose II (famous boats & Canadian icons) were here.⠀ ⠀ 🐚 They have a Vinegar Bible! It’s one of 12 bibles in the world that says “vinegar” where it’s supposed to say “vineyard.”⠀ ⠀ What UNESCO World Heritage Sites have you visited? Also accepting Netflix recommendations!👌🏻 P.S. I have a blog post on day tripping here from Halifax! 📸 @passportunities ⠀ ⠀ #femmetravel #passionpassport #sheisnotlost explorecanada #canadagram #canadaphoto #imagesofcanada #canadian #tourcanada #enjoycanada #novascotia #citizenfemme
Instagram post 2264746382144612215_56014037 Working from home now? SAME. ⠀ ⠀ I’ve been working from home for a while now (3 out of 5 days per week usually) and I’ve learned that it’s very different than being in an office.⠀ ⠀ 12 Tips for Working at Home (and Staying Connected) is now on Nina Near and Far! LINK IN BIO. ⠀ ⠀ Here’s a mini-list for you to SAVE. I provide more details + psychology in the blog post.⠀ ⠀ 🖥 Go outside first thing. Get that sunlight!⠀ ⠀ 🖥 Plan around your brain. More on this in the blog post.⠀ ⠀ 🖥 Wear a work outfit.⠀ ⠀ 🖥 Move around lots!⠀ ⠀ 🖥 Use apps to limit distractions - programs that stop you from going on time-wasting websites.⠀ ⠀ 🖥 Work in time blocks.⠀ ⠀ 🖥 Join social media communities. My fellow academics check out @academeology and Nina Near and Far will also serve as a community with chats happening beginning this week!⠀ ⠀ 🖥 Keep meal prepping. Nothing throws off your day faster than cooking during “lunch break.”⠀ ⠀ 🖥 Have an office space. I’ve shared a couple tips on the blog.⠀ ⠀ 🖥 Check in with your team. Doesn’t have to be a work team! Friend teams work too.⠀ ⠀ 🖥 Maintain regular hours.⠀ ⠀ ❤️ Accept this virtual hug. This is probably not going to go exactly how you want it to and that is OK. This is not a vacation, it’s not a lovely new effort, it’s a pandemic. It’s going to be tough but we’re in this together. ⠀ ⠀ P.S. this is a stock photo. This is not my desk. I’ve never posted a photo that wasn’t my own before but hey... my desk is a mess right now and this is important 🤷🏼‍♀️ this is by Jacqueline Kelly on Unsplash #workfromhome #myottawa #ottawalife #apt613 #faceottawa #topottawaphoto #ottawa #yowcity #ottcity #apt613 #ottawaphoto #workfromhomelife
Instagram post 2263521918291737433_56014037 What’s good? The internet and social media are about COVID-19 right now 🦠 and that is important - but also important is for us to feel connected and take a deep breath and maybe even laugh a little. AND SO:⠀ ⠀ What’s up, my people? What’s good, interesting, going right in your life? Funniest thing you heard all week, weird fact your learned? Drop one 👇🏻 and check out some others. I’ll start! ⠀ ⠀ 🏡 I’m apartment hunting and I’ve found a couple places that I love 😍 can’t wait to live close to work next year.⠀ ⠀ 🐟 Once upon a prehistoric age sabertooth salmon were a thing 😯 I learned this by watching a TED talk, I have not take up a particular interest in prehistoric fish.⠀ ⠀ 📚 I’m writing my thesis proposal. I looooove my thesis proposal. Gives me the warm and fuzzies thinking about how we will further understand how leadership affects employee experiences of workplace stressors.⠀ ⠀ 📱I’m still laughing at this gem that I read last week: ⠀ ⠀ “Clicked on ‘make a reservation’ on a restaurant’s page and it opened FaceTime and started calling them. I cannot stress enough how much I did not want that to happen.” ⠀ ⠀ I’m giggling to myself just trying to type that last one out 😂😂😂😂😂⠀ ⠀ Your turn! Tell me ANYTHING that is bringing you smiles, gratitude, warm and fuzzies, or laughs right now. 📸 @splashofartistry
Instagram post 2261453235088237150_56014037 Look who I hung out with on Saturday night 🐺 😍 SWIPE for a look inside the Wolf Cabin at @parcomega (thanks for hosting us ☺️)⠀ ⠀ We were only visited by the wolves a couple of times but we could certainly hear them all the time. Turns out there are a lot of kerfuffles in a wolf pack. We were woken up bright and early by their howling!⠀ ⠀ This is an experience for the bucket list! How many people can say they’ve slept in a cabin with wolves right outside? Get a group of 4-6 people together to book your own stay.⠀ ⠀ More details on the stay + prices are on my blog! LINK IN BIO.⠀ ⠀ #quebecoroginal #explorecanada #femmetraveler #canadagram #sheisnotlost #girlslovetravel #imagesofcanada #tourcanada #enjoycanada
Instagram post 2258537609189302403_56014037 What’re you reading lately? 📚 I have shared a lot of book recommendations with you in DMs through some chats about coping with stress & what you want to learn about leadership (in response to my Q since I’m teaching a course on leadership for high school students soon). My research areas, for those who don’t know, are leadership and workplace stress .⠀ ⠀ Here’s a quick-list of some of my favourite books that I recommend all the time! SAVE THIS LIST ⠀ ⠀ 📖 How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes - most practical book on communication / social skills ever. ⠀ ⠀ 📖 Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown - on cultivating belonging in our communities and organizations.⠀ ⠀ 📖 Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink - on leadership, teamwork, and owning up.⠀ ⠀ 📖 The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle - on building and sustaining an awesome team.⠀ ⠀ 📖 Crucial Confrontations by Kerry Patterson et al. - sometimes confrontations are important. Get ready!⠀ ⠀ 📖 Rising Strong by Brené Brown - on going through tough experiences and owning your story.⠀ ⠀ 📖 Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss - on negotiating. ⠀ ⠀ 📖 Dealing With People You Can’t Stand by Rick Brinkman - self explanatory.⠀ ⠀ 📖 Quiet by Susan Cain - on the power of introverts.⠀ ⠀ 📖 Boundaries by Henry Cloud - there’s also a Boundaries for Leaders version. Set them, stick to them.⠀ ⠀ 📖 Mindset by Carol Dweck - on how your beliefs about learning effect you.⠀ ⠀ 👇🏻 Add to the list! Favourite books that have helped you at work/ coping with stress / in leadership? Or other favs!⠀ ⠀ #mtlmoments #quebecoriginal #femmetravel #femaletravelblogger #leadershipdevelopment #businessdevelopment
Instagram post 2256318395585984629_56014037 1 National Park down, 47 to go! 🇨🇦 Nick and I will be visiting another Canadian National Park - Gros Morne - in Newfoundland & Labrador this summer and I can’t wait. What National Parks have you been to (in any country) that you would particularly recommend? ⠀ ⠀ Ok, actually - I have been to a one other National Park but I was veeeeery little 👶 and have zero memory of it.⠀ ⠀ Btw - this is Prince Edward Island National Park! Check out my PEI Guide (LINK IN BIO) and plan yourself a visit ASAP. This little island province has so much to offer!⠀ ⠀ #explorepei #princeedwardisland #explorecanada #tourcanada #enjoycanada #sheisnotlost #canadagram #girlsabroad #dametraveller #canadaphoto #imagesofcanada #femmetravel
Instagram post 2255495813039235406_56014037 CAFÉS IN MONTREAL - SAVE this post for your next Montreal visit! The cafés in Montreal are often in beautiful, historic spaces like this one and are otherwise cute and cozy in the own ways. I love working in cafés and Montreal also has the best co-working spaces!⠀ ⠀ 🥂 Check our the link in my bio my full MONTREAL FOOD GUIDE. It’s organized in to 3 areas and by brunch, lunch & dinner, and cafés in each area! Maps & websites included for all locations 😍⠀ ⠀ Cafés in Le Plateau Mont Royal⠀ ☕️ Café Névé: Spacious yet cozy. I love their iced tea!⠀ ☕️ Replika: my favourite café in the area for working.⠀ ☕️ Nocturne: super cozy café with delicious drinks and baked good.⠀ ☕️ Dispatch Coffee: perfect when you’re in the mood for quality, fresh espresso.⠀ ☕️ Nobel Café: super cute, counter-serve café with outdoor seating.⠀ ☕️ Le Moineau Masqué: beautiful terrace in the summer + homemade ice cream some days!⠀ ⠀ Cafés in Old Montreal⠀ ☕️ Tommy Café: possibly Montreal’s most beautiful café. 3 stories, wood, natural light, hanging plants! (This is the one in this photo).⠀ ☕️ Collective Crew: this is a fantastic co-working café if you’re looking to be productive.⠀ ☕️ Xavier Artisan: right by Notre-Dame Cathedral, great food!⠀ ⠀ #montreal #montrealblogger #thismtl #mtlmoments #montreal_gallery #montreallife #quebecoriginal #montrealfood #montrealfoodie #mtlfood
Instagram post 2248810253180715165_56014037 Life hack: stop trying to force yourself to do things in ways that aren’t right for you. ⠀ ⠀ There are some ways of doing things that are “better” according to popular culture, experts, or even scientific studies - but that doesn’t make them fixed rules.⠀ ⠀ I’m not a morning person 🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m most productive late in the day. 4AM wake up? I don’t think so. Evening is also when I prefer to exercise - despite being fully aware of the benefits of morning exercise. Going in the evening is better than *not actually going* in the morning. Sure, you could train yourself to be something you’re not but that just goes against your own biology and when you go through rough patches it’ll be a struggle. Get in touch with your own rhythm and trust me... you will get way more done!⠀ ⠀ 📸 @splashofartistry
Instagram post 2248041670175513161_56014037 I love visiting the same place in different seasons 😍 SWIPE for summer! This is St Louis Square - it’s been called the “closest thing to a European neighborhood square this side of the Atlantic.” I’m not sure about that part... but it is lovely in it’s own right!⠀ ⠀ What’s a place you’ve seen in different seasons? Or want to - I’ve decided that absolutely need to make it to Montreal for the cherry blossoms this spring! 🌸 ⠀ ⠀ #quebecoriginal #mtlmoments #wanderlust #beautifuldestinations #montrealwinter #letsgoeverywhere #femaletravelblogger #canadagram #explorecanada
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