Month in Review: May 2022
How is it almost June? I can’t believe we’re reaching the halfway point of the year and that summer is practically here (even though Vancouver’s weather refuses to believe it). May 2022 was a busy and full month for me with too many highlights to pick from!
Here’s my month in review:
Highlights
We started May 2022 off with our trip to New York City, which was exhausting but a lot of fun. My favourite parts of that trip were the very meaningful tour with the 9/11 Tribute Museum and the incredibly fun and impressive show, Six, that we got to see (one of four Broadway shows we saw!).
Back in Vancouver, we got to catch up with my great family friend, Kaitlyn, over oysters when she visited from San Francisco. We had a few more family reunions this month: catching up with Colin’s mom and aunt for a belated Mother’s Day brunch and seeing my great aunt and uncle for a few meals while they’re in the city.
We also finally got a bit of sun in Vancouver! It didn’t last too long but it was so nice sitting out on our patio, working from the couch and hosting people for dinner!
Lowlights
Unfortunately, our trip to New York started with a delayed connecting flight and a day of monsoon-level rain. I got so soaked I had to throw out my “rain jacket” which proved to not be very waterproof. Luckily, we took shelter in a few Broadway theatres 🙂
You’d think as a travel blogger, I’d have the whole flying thing down pat. But no, I still don’t love flying and I especially disliked our flight home from New York. I got stuck in a middle seat next to two broad-shouldered men and ended up feeling pretty sick. I had to stand at the back of the plane, sipping water and holding ice to my forehead. Luckily the barf bag was not used but it was a close call!
And as much as I enjoyed our time in New York, it was a pretty tiring trip. We were exhausted there, busy when we got back and I think I’m still trying to catch up on sleep!
Best watch
The big shows Colin and I watched this month were MasterChef Australia and Survivor. MasterChef Australia is as pleasant and lovely to watch as ever. It also airs five times a week with many episodes lasting 60+ minutes, so it’s a commitment! Survivor just crowned its 40th winner in 42 seasons, making it (spoiler alert!) back to back wins for young, Canadian, BIPOC queens. And we couldn’t be prouder!
I also binged all of Virgin River in April/May and am eagerly awaiting the new season!
What’s cooking?
May 2022 was a very good eating month! With some delicious eats in New York and lots of great meals back in Vancouver, here are a few favourites:
- Delicious empanadas and bagels in New York City
- Great seafood from Fanny Bay Oysters
- Brunch at The Boathouse
- Shrimp tacos and fruit cocktails on our patio
- A yummy meal my great aunt prepared at her condo with awesome seafood, vegetables and mango sticky rice
Posts from this month
This month on Teaspoon of Adventure I published:
- How to Spend 5 Days in Kauai, Hawaii
- Our Budget Patio Makeover
- The 10 Best Places to Eat in Kauai
- 10 Tips for Planning Your Honeymoon
Check out any of the posts you’ve missed!
For my throwback post of the month, I’m going back to May 2020: We Were on House Hunters International! As you may already know, Colin, Ellie and I were on House Hunters International when we lived in Prague. Our episode aired in May 2020, just a couple of months after we abruptly had to leave Prague due to covid.
It was so fun to share our episode with friends and family and relive our time in Prague. Our episode recently showed up on the HGTV app we have (though I haven’t brought myself to watch it again!). But check out the post above for behind the scenes details of our time on House Hunters International!
Reads
This month, I actually finished three books! I’m not quite up to my 2019-2021 rhythm but it was nice to get back into a bit more reading. Here’s what I read in May 2022:
The Guncle by Steven Rowley
I was recommended this book to get out of my reading slump and it totally fit the bill. Charming, light and fun to read. I actually read it in one sitting on our first flight to New York!
The Palace Papers by Tina Brown
I’ve always had a mild fascination with the British royal family, so appreciated this biography focused on the current generations. The author was quite critical of all of the family members, which was a bit jarring to read, but I was engaged the whole time.
My Good Life in France by Janine Marsh
I didn’t love this book but it was fun to hear about expat life in rural France, especially as I dream of a trip back to Europe (more on that below!).
Travels
Our big trip this month was to New York City! We first visited New York in August 2015, so it was awesome to go back and see things we missed the first time. I love New York and can’t wait for a future trip to eat more amazing food, see more Broadway shows and explore more unique neighbourhoods.
We also found an awesome flight deal this month and booked tickets to Europe in the fall: $490 roundtrip from Vancouver to Paris! I’m already so looking forward to spending 10 days in Europe this September, likely planning time in BeNeLux (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg).
Where we have travelled in May:
- May 2014: In May 2014, I was just wrapping up my semester abroad in Amsterdam. My mom flew out from Toronto to join me on travels through Europe. I met her in London, showed her around Amsterdam, we drove across Germany with her friend, Tilo, and then visited Croatia, Montenegro and London again before she headed back home. It was an awesome time exploring Europe with my mama!
- May 2015 & 2016: I spent Victoria Day weekend in 2015 and in 2016 visiting Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia. In 2015, I went over with Colin and my family, who were in town for my university graduation. And in 2016, Colin and I went back on our own. Victoria is so charming – I think I’d consider moving there one day.
Simple joys
One thing I struggle with is appreciating the small joys in everyday life. I often forget how great I have it because I’m too busy planning for the future or dreaming about a trip I’d rather be on. So I thought I’d use this section of my monthly recap to share some small things that are making me smile to help remind myself how grateful I am for all of it.
- I’ve been loving making fancy breakfasts and slowly easing into the day. It feels so indulgent to spend 30 minutes enjoying a delicious breakfast sandwich, yogurt, fruit and an iced coffee on a weekday morning.
- Reading on our patio in the sun with Ellie curled up in front of me and Colin on a chair next to me. A weekend afternoon well spent!
- We recently had an electrician come through and fix the light in our bedroom. It’s so nice to be able to use our light switch again and not have to run around turning on lamps!
Coming up next
There are two things coming up in June 2022 that I am so excited about: more summer weather with lots of time spent out on our patio and seeing Hamilton in Vancouver (an early birthday gift from my mom)!
I hope your May 2022 was as wonderful as mine! What did you get up to and what’s coming up for you in June?
I always love your Month in Review, but I have to say, reading about your NYC trip exhausted me, especially being soaked from the ‘monsoon’ like rain, and the awful flight delay at Pearson. Oh, let’s not forget about being stuck in the middle between 2 big shouldered men on the way back, and feeling so sick. So sorry to hear that. I didn’t know about that part, ugh!
However, it always amazes me how much you (and Colin) pack into a trip which was only 3 full days and 2 days of travel. I know, because I was here watching Ellie, so I got the easy part. You took in 4 Broadway shows, wow, and all the food you tried as well as sightseeing trips, awesome!
So glad to hear May was a great food month…I also got to eat some of those meals and everything was delish!
I spent most of May cleaning it seems, lol. I moved back to an apartment in the West End, and cleaned as well as organized and put away my things for 3.5 days. In between I spent time with auntie & uncle and their friends as they just arrived in Vancouver the last week of April and we did some sightseeing together and definitely ate well between auntie’s great cooking, going to some restaurants, as well as shrimp tacos at your place and the delicious drink you made. The next part of cleaning was auntie’s condo. It had been 2 weeks after they arrived and I couldn’t get a cleaner that quickly, so I ended up cleaning the condo when they went out. Then when I was watching Ellie and staying over at your great and spacious pad, I think I spilled something or other, can’t quite recall what got me started on cleaning; not that your place was messy at all, but it’s my ocd’ism coming out. So that’s a lot of cleaning in 1 month. haha. But also appreciate being back in the West End and going for walks along the seawall and into Stanley Park and the Lost Lagoon. I appreciate having your spacious place to host the dinner on Ted’s bday, May 10th. Thank you. I feel fortunate to be at the Barclay place, thanks to Steve for being so generous with the low rent until I get back on my feet from disability, and I enjoy having a space of my own, even if it’s temporary. The condo was huge and I loved it, but always knew it wasn’t ‘my place’, borrowed space. I am also very thankful to auntie & uncle for letting me stay there. So the month of May had me reflecting on all I am thankful for. I couldn’t have gotten through the past year after Ted’s passing without your support Boo! Thank you!
I guess I am on Ellie duty when you guys head to TO late August as well as the Sept trip to Europe. I am happy to do it. 💟
Aw thanks for your lovely comment, Moo! Sounds like a very busy month for you with lots of big changes. Very inspiring that you’re able to focus on gratitude through it all!
And if you’re free, we’d definitely love to take you up on pup-sitting in Aug and Sep. But no worries if you’re not! We can confirm closer to 🙂