I’ve been a reader ever since I was little… my favorites were Berenstain Bears and Little Critter books and eventually I graduated to Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys and in my teens… embarrassing to say… Danielle Steele and all the drama fiction of the 90’s. I remember my Omi being thrilled that I’d become an avid reader because she was as well. There was always a stack of books waiting to be read on a table in her home. I am now that person. I have a stack by my bed and I add to it often so that there’s always something to look forward to reading!

I’ve read 24 books so far this year and I’m on track for my reading goal of 30 books for the year. I know some people who read much more than me and some who read less. I’ve just found that 30 books is a comfortable pace for me. I’ll do a best books of 2021 at the end of the year so I’m going to save those titles but I thought it would be fun to write about some of the other books I’ve enjoyed so far!

1. The Little Book of Hygge: This was a gift from a good friend and I honestly loved it. Hygge (Hooga) is all about creating a cozy, warm, welcoming and connected environment and it named all the ways we try to make our spaces and our experiences satisfying. This was a great gift and a good read, especially in the winter!
2. The Lion’s Den: If you’re looking for a vacation/beach read, this is a good one. It’s entertaining with plenty of drama. Set on a yacht on the Mediterranean, it’s got untrustworthy friends, a sugar daddy, some thugs and a great escape. I enjoyed it!
3. 28 Summers: I’m hesitant on how to rate this book. I tore through it and thought about it when I wasn’t reading but I also had a few conflicted conversations with my husband about the story because it’s certainly not the life I would choose and I couldn’t understand why the characters would make the choices they did. Regardless, I read it very fast, which is always a good sign that I’m into the story.
4. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: I could write a blog post on this book alone. The amount of quotes and dog eared pages in my copy are proof enough that this was a good read. I’m not sure what category it fits into but let’s call it an autobiography of sorts. The author is a therapist who writes about the journey of a few of her clients as well as her own deep dive into therapy. It’s written in first person, like a story and I was hooked from the beginning. I laughed out loud a couple times and had a good cry at one point too. It’s relatable and entirely engaging.
5. Florence Adler Swims Forever: Set in Atlantic City in the 1930’s, this book is about a Jewish family and the consequences that unfold from their decision to hide a tragedy that occurs within the family. I found the characters to be interesting and I learned more about the struggles of Jews trying to leave Germany during the rise of the Nazi party. It’s a good read and had a satisfying ending!
6. Beach Read: At the beginning, this book was a little hard to find that rhythm I look for in a good book. I felt like it bumped along for a bit but then there was a noticeable shift and the author found her stride. The story is about 2 authors who are each struggling with writers block, while at the same time working through big life changing events in their own lives. There’s romance and vulnerability, some unexpected turns and a couple tear jerk moments.
7. How to Stop Time: The plot of this book was unique and I really liked it. The main character is someone who realizes he does not age at the same rate as those around him. He must continually re-invent a new life for himself as people start to notice that he’s not growing old. It’s a book motivated by love and a desire to be known, despite the risks.

Well those are just a few of the books I’ve read this year. If you read any of these, I hope enjoy them! What are you reading these days? I’m always looking for good recommendations.

xo Bonnie

Sixteen years ago, we bought an outdoor dining set at The Greenhouse in Bellingham, WA and it felt like quite a splurge. It ended up being worth every penny because it still looks brand new all these years later. We’re ready to get something new though because our current set only seats 4 people, which doesn’t leave any room for having people over. We’ve always just sat around in chairs to eat but I’m ready for an actual table that seats 6-8 people.

Because of where we live, a lot of the wood options aren’t on my list. There’s just too much rain here and I don’t want to buy something gorgeous for our patio and have it look 10 years old after a surprise week of rain in June. Am I being too worried about this? I’ve looked at approximately 476 dining table options and this is my short list.

Option 1

My main likes on this are that it seats 8 people and I like that it’s black. The chairs look like they might not hold up for many years but maybe they will. Their shape doesn’t make me swoon either and the table doesn’t have an umbrella hole. I might be talking myself out of this as a contender. But them my husband just said he likes this one.

Option 2

I love the look of this set but I can’t tell if that’s because of the way it’s been styled on the patio. It’s also got the mesh seating again and I’m not sure how that will hold up over time. The table top is not real wood and I wonder what that means in person. Does it look tacky or does it hold up? There’s also no umbrella hole so we’d have to buy a cantilevered umbrella.

Option 3

Don’t look at the benches because I’d just buy the table and get chairs (they have a matching option). I LOVE this table but my husband is hesitant to buy a wood table with all the rain we get. It does have a polyurethane topcoat and the website says to cover it in extreme weather. No mention of never being in the rain. This would be my pick. What do you think of the rain worries??

Option 4

This is the exact same table as the wood version above. I would go for it in a second except it’s not true black. It’s antique bronze and it’s hard to tell by the photos what that means in real life. It looks almost black in this picture but if you click on the photo, it shows another picture that looks more brown-ish. But it would wear very well, it’s a good shape and the matching chair options are a nice.

Option 5

This option is all weather wicker so it would wear very well in the weather here. I do like the gray color and it would look great agains our white house but the chairs are pricey ($350-$400 each) so it would be an expensive choice.

Option 6

Ignore the chairs. I’d just buy the table and buy better (looking & quality) chairs. This is the cheapest option and because it’s from Target, I don’t have high hopes that it would last a long time but it checks the boxes in terms of looks.

_  _  _  _

Alright that’s it. If you have a better suggestion from somewhere I haven’t looked yet, please tell me!!!  I still want to look around at local stores to see what’s on offer but these are my online choices after too many hours of searching. What would you pick??

xo Bonnie

** Photos used with permission from Ride Culture.

The first time I went to a spin class, it was in a giant generic gym. The lights were florescent and harsh, the music was blah and the instructor kept telling me to pretend I was climbing a hill, to imagine the scenery. If I wanted to climb a hill and enjoy the view, I’ll get on my mountain bike, thank-you. I left that class unimpressed and never went back.

Fast forward years later when my friend Caitlin Walker invited me to try a spin class with her in Vancouver, BC. I knew there was a newer genre of spin studios (think SOULCYCLE) that people seemed to love so I figured I should give it another shot. This class was much different than my first experience years earlier! The music was loud, the studio was dark and nobody tried to get me to imagine I was climbing anything! What did happen was something more like this: I clipped into the pedals, the music started and I began one of the most intense workouts of my life! I’ll admit, there were a couple moments when I wondered what I’d signed up for and if I’d make it through the class without passing out. But by the end, I felt amazing. Not only did I get the workout of my life, I also felt inspired, energized and maybe like a little bit of a badass! I wished there was something local so I could get that kind of workout on the regular.

This is where I get to tell you… Bellingham is getting its very own spin studio and you’ll have the chance to see what I mean! The same Caitlin Walker who introduced me to spin has dreamed up a beautiful new studio called Ride Culture, located next to the future home of Scotty Browns in Barkley Village and it is exactly what Bellingham has been missing!

A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to join in on a training class prior to Ride Culture’s opening. The class was challenging and my heart rate definitely got up there! If I could describe how it felt to be in this spin class, I would choose ‘supported.’ Caitlyn’s constant encouragement to push hard coupled with reminders to listen to my body created exactly what I look for in a workout class. I want a workout that will challenge me but I also don’t want to feel stupid for not being able to stay at the class pace the whole time. You won’t feel this at Ride Culture.

I had a chance to sit down with Caitlin to get a little more info on her new project and I’m excited to share with you!

How did you come up with the idea for Ride Culture?

Pretty much the way I approach life. If I want it and it doesn’t exist, I’ll create it! After taking a SOULCYCLE class in 2012, I started dreaming of what it would take to create something similar for my community.

What is your inspiration for the name?

The word “Culture” incites memories of travel to new countries and experiencing other cultures which, having grown up in Thailand and Costa Rica, is close to my heart. Culture = Community to me. Every home, office, etc has its own culture. I wanted to create a place where we could all bring our cultures together and create a place full of diversity, energy and kindness for everybody and everyBODY.

What motivates you?

I am motivated by a desire to take care of others. As a child I thought I’d become a nurse. I grew up watching my parents give back to the less fortunate in Asia and Central America. As an adult I’ve found my way to give back by helping others become healthier and happier through exercise. Now if I could just find a solution for the obesity rate, food insecurity, etc…

What would you say to someone to who has never tried spin?

I hope your first class is as life changing for you as it was for me. Riding in sync with others in a dark room with the beat of the music driving you to push yourself makes you feel like you can accomplish anything!

How is Ride Culture prepared for opening safely during the pandemic?

We had the advantage of our building being under construction during 2020. We learned we could enhance our safety protocols by installing UV air scrubbers and lighting into our studio. This technology will ensure our space is not only sanitized but also thoroughly disinfected.

 When you think about people coming into Ride Culture for the first time, what do you hope they experience?

I hope they are wow’d by the design, feel pampered by the amenities; that they feel welcomed and become slightly addicted to the workout!

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Ride Culture has an open house on Saturday, March 27th from 10am-12pm to check out the studio, purchase a ride class pack and get entered for some great prizes! Doors open for business on Monday, March 29th and you can visit their website www.rideculture.com for more information. I cannot rave enough about Ride Culture. It’s a beautiful and inspiring place to work out and you’ll leave feeling more at home in your body, grateful for all it can do. I hope I see you there!

xo Bonnie

When everything shut down in March of 2020, I don’t think any of us could’ve predicted that things would go on this long. The shock of picking my kids up from school on a Friday, finding out that school was cancelled until who knows when was almost more than I could fathom. It was the final year of my kids little Spanish Immersion school (it merged with another school and we’d opted not to move with it) so this last day was truly the last day of seeing these teachers, some of these friends and this school building forever. I took my boys home, tried to comfort them without having any answers and we hunkered down for the lockdown.

I remember my precious self so earnestly believing that things were going to right themselves in a couple of months. We stayed home, along with the rest of the world, cleaning closets and decluttering in hopes that things would get back to normal soon.

In many ways, I am so thankful that I didn’t know how long things would stretch on. I think I would’ve spiraled in a way that would’ve been scary. I like a plan. I like a calendar that’s full. I like to know what’s happening next and I’m sure I’m not alone in these things! Here we are a year later and we learned how to do life with a little more flexibility. Although we’re not entirely out of the woods yet, I feel so hopeful for the end of this chapter.

Do you feel like there are things you’ll hold onto from the Covid era? I do! Lessons learned through the stress, the improvisations, the letting go… there are treasures that we can take with us when we re-enter into the busy everydays we used to lament but later realized we loved and missed dearly this last year. I’m sure I could write for days about the things I’ve learned but here are the ones that stand out.

Staying Present: I am a planner. I plan trips, remodel timelines, date nights, time with friends, playdates for my kids, organize our life around sports and I love all of it. My paper calendar and I are very good friends. When the calendar was suddenly blank and we had endless days at home, I went into the most crazy cleaning/organizing mode, trying to make up for all that empty space. I had the entire house organized and cleaned from top to bottom in the first week. After that… there I was… with time. I spent a lot of time where my mind kept roving over the calendar or the day, trying to find the next thing to rest on or focus on. It hit me that all of that is the opposite of being present where I am now. I read somewhere recently (can’t remember where) that the only place our bodies are is in the present so when we’re a million miles away from where our bodies are, we’re living in a disembodied state. Deep breathes here!! Embodiment is learning to live in our bodies and learning to become good at being present where we actually are. This idea spoke to me so much that I picked a word for 2021. I never pick words for a new year but this year, it felt like a good idea. ‘Here’ is my word and I try to be here often. It’s not easy for me but I’m choosing to keep coming back to it.

‘If I had more time’ Theology: This one is short and sweet. If you tell yourself this, you’re lying to yourself. We had so much more time this past year and did you get all the things done that you’ve been saying you’d do, if only… ? Yeah, me neither. The truth is that we get the things done that matter to us, regardless of how much time we have. The end.

Menu Plans: This is not super deep but oh my goodness… having a plan for what I’m making has been something I’ve gotten so much better at during Covid. It started when everything shut down and I was trying to shop as little as possible. I’d plan out 14 days of meals, shop and cook until we’d eaten everything and do it all again. Granted, that’s a little extreme and I don’t actually want to live like that but when I cut it down to 7 days and eventually to 4, that felt like menu planning for beginners and so easy. Pre-pandemic, it felt hard. Planning our dinners ahead has taken the stress out of figuring out what to eat and it’s also helped me be much more creative. I’ve tried more new recipes in the past year than I have in the past 5 years combined.

Trusting Friendships: I have always had a little angst around friendships. I really value my friends and love to spend time with them. I don’t always trust that people feel the same way about me. It’s just one of those insecure hangups of mine. When everyone stopped seeing each other last March, I had a hot minute where my mind ran the gamut on how alone I’d be at the end of this. But you know what? This year has been a good year for friendships. It’s been harder to connect at times and be together as often as I’d love to but I think I’ve grown to trust that the people around me want to be there. That feels like a win.

Rhythms: With kids and sports, friendships and date nights, it can get very easy for the calendar to get jammed with activities and suddenly hit a point where we’re simply exhausted. We found a really good rhythm through Covid that I don’t want to let go of altogether when things ramp up again. We planned a specific day each week that we just rested and spent time together as a family at home. The lack of a plan and a schedule was good for all of us. We also started making Friday nights a family night with takeout and a movie. It was our reward after a long week and we all look forward to it so much. I’m sure it’ll turn into some eating out and then a movie as things open up but the overall theme is something I don’t want to let go of.

Letting Go: My family doesn’t live in the USA. My brother is in New Zealand and the rest of my family is in Canada. The border has been closed and I haven’t seen any of them in so long and it’s been hard. For months, I would hit a wall in my head almost daily when I remembered that the border was closed and it took until September before I accepted it as reality. Learning to let go of ‘what if’ and accept ‘what is’ was really important for my mental health. And now I can see the end in sight and cannot wait to be in Vancouver for drinks in my ‘city clothes’ with my brother and his partner. 🙂

A year in, I can see that all was not lost this year. In fact, there was so much good learning and digging deep that never would’ve happened in the same way without this pandemic. I know I’m not alone in this. What did you learn?

xo Bonnie