Friday, July 30, 2021

Five on Friday - July 30, 2021 ~ Beyond Van Gogh Experience Calgary, Summer TBR List, Grandma's Desserts, Wine Haul and Pixie Mood Purses

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you all have had a good week! It has still been a busy stressful week, so I took today off to help me collect myself - going from vacation to everything with my grandma to a busy work week, I really need a day. Also, we are leaving for vacation in Fairmont tomorrow and I need some relaxing time! 

ONE 

Calgary Beyond Van Gogh
We were hosted at the Van Gogh Experience, everything else I purchased myself - this post contains affiliate links 

I was so excited - I have heard about the Beyond Van Gogh Experience a few months ago (it was supposed to happen in Spring, but couldn't because of covid restrictions at that time still), and I was thrilled to be invited to a little sneak peek yesterday before the exhibit opens today in Calgary, July 30 and it is running through to August 29! 

So, immerse yourself in Van Gogh’s artwork like you’ve never seen it before -  this experience uses cutting-edge projection technology to fully journey in to the world of Van Gogh. Using his dreams, his thoughts, and his words to drive the experience as a narrative, they move along projection swathed walls wrapped in light, colour, and shapes that swirl, dance and refocus into flowers, cafes and landscapes. Masterpieces, now freed from frames, come alive, appear and disappear, flow across multi-surfaces, the minutia of details titillating our heightened senses.

Calgary Van Gogh Experience

My son and I absolutely loved the exhibit - make sure you check out my instagram where I am sharing more pictures and videos too! I
t was so cool, they build you up to the big immersive room. It starts with information and history of Van Gogh, to a small immersive room, and then in to the big room full of music and moving pictures! It's so cool - we really enjoyed it, and my son who says he isn't really an "art guy" thought it was amazing! It is stunning! For $52.95 each, make sure you take your time, or check out a yoga class every Thursday morning! 

TWO 

Summer Reads

Time to share my TBR list for the Summer! I thought I would pick up all books with the Summer theme in the name! I always try and plan my reading with themes; but, honestly, I usually manage to stick to the theme for most of the month, then I grab something I'm in the mood for, which is usually different!

I always track my books on GoodReads, so if you have GoodReads and want to connect - you can find me here! I really love seeing what everyone is reading and I always find recommendations for myself from your reading lists! Here's what I'm planning on reading:
  • Summer of Salt by Katrina Leno ~ This is a young adult magical realism/fantasy book about twin sisters in a line of women with magic, the main character who is still waiting for her magic to show up before her 18th birthday. They've just finished school and tourists descend to the island for Summer to see a special 300 year old bird. (Spoiler alert - I loved this! I will have a full review coming soon!)
  • Summer of '69 by Erin Hilderbrand ~ This takes place over the tumultuous Summer in the 20th century - sounds like a coming of age story set in a Summer house with the main character's grandmother. Every year the children of the Levin family look forward to spending the summer with their grandmother in Nantucket, but this year they are all spread out, except for the main character. I haven't read any Erin Hildebrand, but she seems like the queen of Summer books, so I am looking forward to it! 
  • The Last Summer (of You and Me) by Ann Brashares ~ This is another book about families going to an island for their Summers - sisters Riley and Alice, and their next door neighbour, Paul. There is friendship, but also some budding sexual tension - there is also illness and tests to everyone. I personally tried to read this already and it just didn't quite work for me - the characters were hard to like and the pacing was too slow for me, but it could still work for you! 
  • Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner ~ This is a novel about friendship and forgiveness set during a disastrous wedding on picturesque Cape Cod - I haven't read any Jennifer Weiner yet either, but she is also the queen of chick lit style books too! Six years after a friendship ending fight Drue reaches out to Daphne to be her maid-of-honour at her wedding, sounds like it's going to be a crazy weekend! 
  • I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan ~ Not pictured, but I had to include this too because don't we all need a little Summer thriller action as well?! I recently had to re-watch this movie, so the book will be fun to dive in to too! 
What's top of your Summer reading list?! 

THREE 



I shared last week that my Grandma passed away, and it was a pretty tough week. This past weekend we had a family bbq night to celebrate her, and I made some of her favourite desserts for the night - Cherry Cheesecake and Lemon Poppyseed Cake! 

FOUR


If you saw my Favourite Winery Posts then you know I love my Okanagan Wine - thought I'd share my haul that I picked up on my Okanagan trip a couple weeks ago! So many good wineries we stopped at - spot any favourites or ones you want to try?! 

FIVE 


Also, in BC I got amazing deals on these Pixie Mood purses for only $15 each - they are gorgeous cross body bags and I couldn't believe the good deal!

I hope you all have a good weekend! 

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