HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE; Experiences Worth Gifting

I attend the Cirque du Soleil show “Luzia” earlier this month and it blew my mind. I was really stressed out the entire time because I was afraid for all of the performers flying about all over the place and I am pretty sure that contortionist broke my brain.

It was whimsical and impressive at the same time and I really enjoyed how they transitioned from one scene to the next. Aerial stunts left my heart racing, while other scenes made me laugh (and one even almost made me cry.)

People who say it’s not worth the hype are fucking lying to you and have no whimsy in their life.

If you want to know about a someones’ true character, go with them to an escape room. It’s a unique way to spend time with someone plus it’s a lot of fun that’s never the same old, same old. It would be really great for team building and getting to know how someone thinks. The first time I did one I was surprised to learn how easily some of my friends could remember long sequences of numbers or even their observational skills.

I always thought that escape rooms would make a great date idea but my friends told me that if I ever brought a guy with me to an escape room my bossy nature would probably either make him cry or that that would be our last date.

This is the type of thing you might only do once in your lifetime but it’s still worth doing once. Eating in a pitch black restaurant is an experience like no other. I wouldn’t say you’re going for the food at all – don’t get me wrong, it’s not bad, it’s just not about the food.

I went to Dark Table years ago with my best friend while she was here visiting and we had a blast. One of the things that surprised me the most was how loud restaurants can be and how I never really noticed that I needed to actually see the way someones’ mouth moves to be able to hear them at that volume. (Also when we were there it was someone’s birthday and the whole restaurant sang along because when no one can see you, why not belt it out?)

I would also suggest that you only go in a group of 4 or less, any more than that and it would be too many conversations to try and weave in and out of.
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Dark Table is also great because they employ blind and visual-impaired individuals who might otherwise have difficulty finding work.

We might as well end the gift guide here because all of the best gifts involved food. The Dirty Apron offers cooking courses were you’ll be able to learn hands-on in a commercial kitchen several different tasty recipes.

This isn’t actually thing I’ve done yet but I keep hinting at this HARD.  I know I said no gifts but if you get this for me, I’ll take you. So is it really something just for me?

Also because I don’t have my own photos to show you, here’s a pic of some of the delicious food I got to eat the last time I was there for a media event.

Listen, even if you don’t believe in the metaphysical it’s still really interesting to go to a tarot card reading. I have gone to a few and The Good Spirit has consistently been my favourite spot to go to for some clarity.

The owner, Savannah, is extremely intuitive and I appreciate her willingness to call me on my shit. I’ve gone to see her when I’m sad about a boy, after I lost my job and sometimes just because. Gifting someone a reading at The Good Spirit is also such a uniquely personal gift that is way better than whatever candle from Bath and Body Works you were thinking of gifting (trust me.)

If you have the opportunity to get out to Whistler and experience the Vallea Lumina show I cannot recommend it enough. It’s so beautiful and the musical aspect throughout the walk is unlike anything I’ve ever experiences before. Without a doubt, one of my highlights of 2019. One of my biggest takeaways of the experience is how all of the lights and music worked with nature instead of trying to distract from nature.

Also, there’s hot chocolate involved.

First thing’s first: don’t be the Peloton husband. Do better.

​However, if you have someone in your life that likes to workout or dance the intro pack to Pop Queen Cardio is a fantastic gift. It’s only $15 for your first two classes and you don’t need any dance experience whatsoever to be able to take the class.

The instructor and OG Pop Queen Jared breaks down pop songs from Ariana, Lana Del Rey and Dua Lipa into fun routines to spike that heart rate up but still manages to make it feel like a party.

A sweaty party that I am super off-tempo at, but a party nonetheless. I always end up laughing SO much every time I take one of their classes.