Winter Wonderland // Christmas Break 2015

This break was filled with everything that makes a great holiday, family, food, skiing and of course lots and lots of chocolate.

As usual Christmas was a blast! I love giving gifts and just knowing that whoever is receiving them will be just as thrilled as I am giving it to them. Nothing beats the smile on someone's face when you give them that unexpected gift that they never new they wanted. Once gifts were open and mimosas drunken the bravest of the family donned our coats and mittens and drove down to Victoria park for some Christmas Day skating. While Ro and I didn't last very long, it was still so great to get out in the crisp December air (which in Edmonton in December is very crisp indeed ;)

I didn't do any Boxing Day shopping this year, for good reason though! I spent December 26 preparing for a trip to Banff with my friend (and duet partner) Quinn and her family. If you've read any of my posts on Banff you know how much I love it there. The atmosphere is incredible: just being surrounded by the mountains and wildlife proves the power and strength in nature. It is so important that we have parks like Banff National Park because they help preserve the beauty and true spirit of Canada. Anyhow, a trip with one of my best friends to one of my favourite places in the world! What could be better?!

 

 

The trip consisted of two days of driving and exploring Canmore and Banff and three days of skiing at Sunshine and Lake Louise in the Rockies. I myself am a fairly leisurely skier, I like the wide open greens and blues where craving back and forth is slow and easy. Quinn's family are a little more adventurous. And by a little I mean a lot! It was great going with a more "extreme" family though, they took me on so many runs I never would have even entertained before. I am a much better skier for it! More extreme runs also means more extreme pictures. The rock garden in Lake Louise may not have been my favourite run but it was definitely my favourite place to take pictures!

Now I'm off to do some review for my diploma that may or may not be in two weeks (hey, skiing takes precedence over math review ;) and get some sleep before school (tear)!

And as always, thanks for reading! Oh and that last New York post will be out soon (I swear ;)

Here are a few of my Skiing must haves
A gorgeous (and warm) coat // here
Matching snow pants // here
Warm mittens (+ hand warmers) // here
A cute toque // here
Some warm ski socks // my favourite brand here