Like, Follow, Subscribe

I listened to Like, Follow, Subscribe by Fortesa Latifi on Spotify. I’m not a mom myself, but as a (tiny) blogger, it was so interesting to get an inside peek at what it’s really like to be a mommy or family blogger or influencer. I knew about some of what goes on behind the scenes, but there were still a few moments where I was genuinely surprised.

Ruby Franke was mentioned more than once throughout the book. While I didn’t know who she was before she was convicted, her story definitely highlighted the dark side of influencers who take things too far.

This one is definitely worth a read (or a listen) if you’re at all interested in the intersection of family, kids, the internet, and the ethics surrounding it all.

Mad Mabel

I’ve read most of Sally Hepworth’s books by now, and I’ve enjoyed all of them. This one was no different!

Mad Mabel follows Mabel, who’s in her 80s and lives on a quiet street. No one would suspect her of having a past as a murderer in her younger years. Through flashbacks, we discover what really happened earlier in Mabel’s life, and how her past is coming back to haunt her in the present.

There’s something about Sally Hepworth’s writing that I love. This was one of those books I had to purposely savor and slow down while reading. I could have easily finished it in just two or three days, but I didn’t want it to end.

If you’ve enjoyed any of her other books, I think you’ll like this one too. Anne of Green Gables is brought up a few times throughout the story, and since Anne is one of my all time favorite book characters, I was really happy to see her get a mention.

The Nancy Drew Files: Portrait in Crime

I found this one at the thrift store for only $1.79, so I knew I had to grab it. There’s something about the Nancy Drew books written in the 80s and 90s that are a bit racier than the originals, with murders, danger, and a lot more romance mixed in.

I remember reading books from this series back in elementary school and thinking the covers looked so old fashioned, even though they were actually pretty recent at the time. It’s funny how that perspective changes once you’re an adult picking these up again for fun.

Portrait in Crime follows Nancy as she works to solve a mystery involving a stolen (and possibly forged) painting, all while teaming up with her best friends George and Bess. As always, there’s a little romantic drama woven in too, with Nancy weighing whether she wants to stay committed to her long term boyfriend Ned or leave the door open for someone new. It’s a fun reminder of why this series has stuck around for so long. The mystery keeps you guessing, but it’s really the friendships and the will they, won’t they with Ned that keep me coming back.

Nancy Drew Girl Detective: False Notes

I read a second Nancy Drew book this month, this time from the newer spin off series written in the early 2000s. These ones aren’t quite as fun for me to read as the older books, since they feel too recent and are written from a first person point of view instead of the classic third person narration I grew up with.

In False Notes, Nancy heads to a summer music camp to look into the kidnapping of a fellow River Heights teen, a talented young musician who vanishes right before a big performance. It was a quick, fun read, and of course Nancy was able to piece together the clues and crack the case in the end. While this series isn’t quite my favorite, I still enjoy revisiting River Heights any chance I get.

Have you read anything good lately? I’d love to hear about it if you have. I’m always looking for new ideas for what to read next, so drop your recommendations in the comments!

The post What I Read in July 2026 appeared first on Get Fit Fiona.

I’m still craving all the sushi lately, so I ordered some spicy vegetable crunchy sushi on Friday night. It was delicious and hit the spot. I’m slowly trying to teach myself how to use chopsticks. I’m still terrible, but maybe I’ve gotten a tiny bit better?

Saturday was another hot one. It got up to 33 C (93 F for my American readers). Most homes don’t have air conditioning in Calgary, so it was pretty miserable, even inside. Needless to say, I was feeling pretty lazy and didn’t do much.

Sunday was 10 degrees C cooler, so I ventured downtown to spend some time with my boyfriend. Unfortunately, trains weren’t running through downtown, which meant I had to walk across downtown to get to his place instead. It actually only took 30 minutes. I was expecting it to take longer than it did.

I met up with him at a nearby Asian grocery store to pick up dinner. Once we got dinner there (kimbap for me, musubi for him), we headed to another grocery store where we picked up some crispy goat cheese bites to go with our finds. My boyfriend heated them up in his air fryer.

While it’s definitely an unlikely combo, it was a delicious dinner. The goat cheese bites were perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I paired them with some lemon pepper sauce. Yum! The kimbap was fresh and delicious too.

After dinner, we watched the first episode of Ride or Die with Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham. We both really liked it and will be watching more. Octavia Spencer is a favorite of mine. She’s so funny. I thought the two of them were great together and had great chemistry.

Winston wasn’t quite as impressed. He couldn’t keep his eyes open.

After Ride or Die, we put on Tremors. Such a silly monster movie, but at this point I think it’s become a classic. I remember watching it for the first time in the late 90s with some old friends. It was cheesy back then too. It’s hard to go wrong with a young Kevin Bacon, even if he does have a terrible haircut in it.

Monday morning we took Winston for a walk. The flowers have been thriving lately with all the sun we’ve had. This planter was in a park downtown. They’re so pretty, and the pink ones are one of my favorites, snapdragons. The city does a pretty good job of making sure our parks are looking beautiful.

Winston went back to sleep after getting back from his walk and eating breakfast. He likes to scrunch his face into the corner of his bed. I have no idea how he can breathe when he does that.

By the time I got home on Monday, it was all about prepping for the week ahead. I got a bunch of laundry done, meal planned and ordered groceries online, and even did some self care with a Grace and Stella eye mask. They’re my favorite eye masks. I stocked up the last time they were on sale at Costco.

Now that you know the highlights of my weekend, share one of yours in the comments below. I’d love to hear how you spent your weekend, whether it was a three day weekend or not.

The post August Long Weekend 2026 Recap appeared first on Get Fit Fiona.

Why I Signed Up

I had been thinking about learning how to play pickleball for a few months. I checked out a few places that offer lessons, but ended up never signing up for any of them. Fast forward, and pickleball lessons were still on my mind. I had finally narrowed it down to two options, one set of lessons indoors and one set outdoors. Finally I made a decision and signed up for the indoor lessons. I figured they wouldn’t get rained out and I would be out of the sun compared to the outdoor lessons. I’m so glad I made that decision, because over the past few weeks we had everything from thunderstorms to really high temperatures during lesson times. I was so grateful to be indoors instead of outdoors! I found my lessons through Pickleball Connect, a local Calgary company that offers pickleball lessons, gear, and programs for all skill levels.

Trying something new as an adult is humbling. Really humbling. As a kid or a teen, you’re encouraged to try new things, whether that’s a new sport, an artform, or anything else. But as an adult, you’re expected to already be good at what you’re doing. There’s this unspoken pressure to be good at a new endeavour, even if you’ve never done it before.

So I definitely felt a sense of vulnerability going into pickleball. I was, and still am, not that great at it. My serves always go off to the left, further left than I intend, and my forehand and punch shots need a lot of work. The one shot that has come naturally to me is my two handed backhand.

I spent my Sunday afternoons in July learning how to play pickleball. Two hour lessons, once a week, as a complete beginner.

What I Expected vs What Actually Happened

I honestly didn’t have a lot of expectations walking into my first lesson. I hadn’t played any racket sports since high school, and I graduated in 2001, so it had been a while. While I had played tennis and squash back then, but I knew pickleball would be quite different. I knew the court is quite a bit smaller than in tennis, and that pickleball shots are underhand, whereas tennis has both overhand and underhand shots.

Before my first lesson, I had read that because pickleball courts are smaller and the shots require a lighter touch, it’s supposed to be easier on the body and less exhausting than tennis. That sounded great to me. I wanted to spend more effort getting the ball back over the net rather than running around the court chasing it down. I also learned that pickleball paddles are lighter than tennis rackets, which meant it would be easier on my injured shoulder (more on how my shoulder held up later in this post).

It had clearly been a while since I’d last tried a new sport, because my first lesson was tough. I constantly felt like I had no idea what I was doing. At a few points during the lessons, it genuinely felt like I couldn’t make my body do what I wanted it to do.

Our instructor was great and so good at giving feedback. It was incredibly helpful, and honestly, considering where I was starting from, just about any feedback was bound to help me improve. Signing up for lessons was definitely the way to go. I don’t think I would have improved much if I had just bought a paddle and some balls and tried to figure it out on my own. Having someone who knew what they were doing, and who even played competitively, teach me was a gamechanger.

The paddles and balls were all provided, so other than workout clothes and a water bottle, I didn’t need to bring anything with me. Not having to invest in equipment upfront was a definite positive, since I wasn’t sure yet if I would even enjoy pickleball.

The Hardest Part of Being a Beginner Again

Even though I knew going into my first lesson that I would be a complete beginner, it was still tough actually being one. I knew I wouldn’t be good at it right away, but only improving a little bit at a time during each lesson was hard. It was frustrating to know exactly what I wanted my body to do, but not yet have the ability to do it.

It felt awkward being so bad at something. I think I overestimated how much I would improve in just four weeks of lessons. While I had learned what I needed to do, actually learning how to do it was a different story altogether. The lessons taught me the skills I needed, and now, going forward, it’s a matter of practicing those skills and getting better at them over time.

I was surprised at how good it felt to let myself be a beginner. Not having it all figured out, and not putting expectations on myself to already be good at pickleball, felt oddly freeing. I put less pressure on myself to play well. Being able to “fail” at serving the ball, or getting it back over the net, felt good rather than discouraging. I have to admit the other students played a big part in that feeling of freedom to be bad at something. While I was definitely trying hard, I didn’t feel pressure from anyone else to be better than I actually was. It was a genuinely supportive environment for lessons.

What Surprised Me Most

I’m not a team sport person at all. I never really have been, aside from a few years of playing rec soccer. I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself to play well and not mess up. In my head, I assume my teammates will be disappointed in me if I do. Realistically, I know they’re not putting that pressure on me, I do it entirely to myself. As a result, I’ve mostly avoided team sports over the years. It ends up feeling too competitive, even when the only person I’m competing against is myself.

But these pickleball lessons surprised me. While we never played any actual games, it felt good to be doing a sport alongside other people and interacting with them. Working out at the gym, practicing yoga, group fitness classes, and at home workouts have always been things I’ve done on my own, even if I’m in a room full of other people. Playing with and against others turned out to be something I didn’t realize, or had simply forgotten, that I enjoyed. It reminded me a bit of how I felt walking Run Bowness alongside my dad, that same sense of doing something hard alongside someone else made it feel lighter. I really enjoyed the community aspect of pickleball. I wasn’t expecting that at all.

What I’d Tell Someone Starting Their First Lesson

Be prepared to be truly awful at pickleball. I knew that logically going in, but actually being terrible at it while genuinely trying hard was a bit eye opening. It takes time to build any real experience with a brand new sport, and that’s completely okay. Try not to judge yourself or put extra pressure on yourself to be good right away.

Be open to feedback. This might sound obvious, but I learned so much from my pickleball instructor. Having him give me tips and tricks, and explain why the ball wasn’t going where I wanted it to go, or point out little things to change, made all the difference for me. If I had been stubborn and closed off to his coaching, I wouldn’t have improved nearly as much as I did.

Would I Keep Playing Pickleball?

Yes, but on a limited basis. And that’s not because I didn’t enjoy it.

I’ve had a lingering rotator cuff shoulder injury. While it’s gotten so much better than it once was, it’s still not 100 percent. I picked pickleball partly because it’s supposed to be much easier on your shoulder than tennis. The paddles are lighter, the shots are softer, and there are no overhead shots. But after each lesson, my shoulder was sore, and I spent a few days afterward icing it. One big thing my instructor pointed out was that I wasn’t following through on my forehand shots, because I was subconsciously trying to protect my shoulder.

So while I was able to play pickleball for four weeks in a row, I don’t think it’ll be something I play regularly going forward. Once in a while? Absolutely. I’ll need to buy a paddle and some balls, and I’d love to play with some friends when the chance comes up. But joining a league or playing on a regular basis isn’t really in the cards for me right now, given how my shoulder is doing. Which is disappointing, honestly, because I really do enjoy pickleball. I’ve been tracking most of my movement this year on my Garmin Vivoactive 6, and it’s been interesting to see how a new sport like this shows up differently than my usual walks and workouts.

Closing Thoughts

I’m so glad I decided to sign up for pickleball lessons. It was a lot of fun, and it reminded me that it’s okay, and even expected, to be bad at something you’ve never done before. It’s okay to have fun learning, and to be able to laugh at yourself for missing an easy shot.

If there’s one thing I’m taking away from this month, it’s a good reminder to try new things every once in a while, even when it feels uncomfortable. I found out I really like playing pickleball, even if it’s not something I can play regularly right now with my shoulder the way it is. I wish I could play more often without ending up sore, but I’m still so glad I gave it a try.

It’s okay to be uncomfortable while learning something new. My instructor made everything look effortless, and then I’d go off to practice serving with a partner or run drills against the wall, and I was genuinely terrible. And that’s perfectly fine. Not everything I do, especially when it comes to a brand new sport, needs to be perfect right from the start.

The post Learning Pickleball From Scratch: A Beginner’s Recap appeared first on Get Fit Fiona.

I’ve been eating more of a plant based diet lately, and I want to make sure I’m still getting all the nutrients I should be getting. I was reading about nutritional yeast, and I decided to get some on Friday. My understanding is that it has a cheesy flavor to it, so I’m hoping to use it when I want to add some cheesy flavor to meals. I still eat dairy, but I’m going to be trying to work in the nutritional yeast as a replacement for parmesan cheese to get in those extra nutrients.

If you eat it, I’d love to hear how you incorporate it into meals. I’m looking for more ideas.

Friday afternoon I headed over to the A Mart near me, a Korean and Japanese grocery store. I’d never been in before, so I figured I’d check it out. I’m so glad I did because I found a few delicious things.

I’ve been on a huge vegetable sushi kick lately, eating it weekly. I was hoping I’d find some sushi at A Mart, but instead I found something just as tasty. Kimbap is a Korean seaweed rice roll that I had never had before. It’s different from sushi in a few ways: the rice is prepared differently and the fillings are cooked rather than raw. They had a vegetable option, so I thought I’d try it.

I’m so glad that I did because it was delicious. I had the kimbap for dinner on Friday, and there was something slightly sweet in it, maybe the pickled radish, that I absolutely loved. It’s definitely something that I’ll be getting again, and it was really budget friendly too. Sushi, even vegetable sushi, can really add up. I’m very happy to have found an alternative that still satisfies the craving for rice and veggies.

I also found some onion ring chips while I was there. I’ve tried other brands before and they’ve all been delicious, so I was glad to find another kind that I like. If you haven’t had them before, they’re a puffed corn and rice snack that’s seasoned to taste like roasted onion. Apparently it’s a popular snack across Asia, but I believe the ones I picked up are Korean.

I’ve shared before on the blog that I volunteer with Girl Guides. This weekend, one of the camps near Calgary was hosting a work weekend, where adult volunteers and their families were invited to camp for the weekend in exchange for helping out with some maintenance work. While I wasn’t able to stay for the whole weekend, I did attend on Saturday.

There were a bunch of different tasks to pick from, and I chose organizing and taking inventory of the two kitchens in our biggest building at camp. The building can be split in two by closing just a couple of doors, so two groups can be in there at once, each with access to their own kitchen, washrooms, and bunk rooms. Since the kitchens are in the same building, things often get “borrowed” from one to the other and never make their way back. So my job was to make sure all the plates, bowls, cups, silverware, pots, pans, and utensils were split roughly evenly between the two.

It ended up being a bigger job than I thought it would be, but it looked so much better by the time I was done. I started in the kitchen that wasn’t being used that day, then worked my way over to the one that was actively being used to cook for all the volunteers. Needless to say, that second kitchen was busy, but I think I still managed to do a pretty good job of organizing it.

Other volunteers were busy too, painting both inside and out, trimming bushes, mowing alongside roads and ditches, clearing brush, and digging post holes. It was a very busy place.

As a youth member, camping was my favorite part of Girl Guides, hands down. I’m glad I’m able to take the kids I volunteer with camping now, and give them the chance to make similar memories to the ones I treasure so much. Volunteering at camp and helping to keep it running smoothly is one of the behind the scenes ways that I can make sure kids today get to experience the same fun things that I did.

Burgers were barbecued for lunch, and these veggie burgers were really good. I’d never had them before, so I got a photo of the box from the person running the kitchen. She said she got them from Costco, so I’ll have to look for them the next time I’m there.

I was exhausted by the time I got home Saturday evening, and after a shower I finally felt human again. It’s amazing how much energy the heat and all that walking between the two kitchens took out of me. I wasn’t expecting to be that tired afterward, so Sunday ended up being pretty quiet as a result.

I’ve been slowly making my way through One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune. It’s the first Carley Fortune book I’ve read, and I’m really enjoying it. It’s one of those books you want to savor, even though I could easily finish it in just a few days. It’s so hard to put down. I spent some time relaxing on Sunday reading out on the deck.

Sunday was also my dad’s birthday. Last weekend I’d ordered the ice cream cake he requested from Dairy Queen, and Sunday morning my brother and I drove over to pick it up. We ordered the smaller size since it’s just the three of us, but it was definitely bigger in person than we expected. We’re going to be eating a lot of ice cream cake over the next few weeks.

I think my dad was happy with his gifts. I got him a series of books that he’d only read the first three of, ones he’d found at a charity book sale. I ended up getting him the entire series instead, since it worked out cheaper than buying only the books he hadn’t read individually. There are ten books in the series in total, so they should keep him busy for a while.

Looking back on it, this was one of those weekends that reminded me how much I love a good mix of quiet and busy. I got to try new foods, support a place that means so much to me, and spend meaningful time with my family, all in the span of a few days. It’s these kinds of weekends, the ones filled with small discoveries and familiar traditions, that I always end up thinking about the most once Monday rolls around.

Now that you know how my weekend was, share the highlights of yours in the comments below. I’d love to know what you were up to!

The post Weekend in Review: July 2026 appeared first on Get Fit Fiona.

Yesterday morning I had a walk planned with a friend. We met up at my neighborhood’s community centre and started our walk from there. She brought along one of her dogs, so it was fun to have Ghost with us. He’s such a sweet, goofy presence to have along on a walk, and it always makes the time go by faster when there’s a dog trotting along beside you.

I forgot to start my watch, so my Garmin only captured most of my walk, which means the numbers below are a slight underestimate of what we actually covered. The route we took was about 4 km. It wove through the neighborhood until we hit a ravine and were treated to more trees, flowers, and grass rather than houses. Going there was slightly downhill, which meant going back was uphill, a detail that felt a lot more significant on the return trip than it did on the way out! While the above pathway photo isn’t from today, it was the same spot we went, so it gives you a good sense of the scenery we were surrounded by. I’m so grateful to have such pretty greenspaces so close to home. It’s one of those things I try not to take for granted, even on a walk I’ve done a hundred times before.

We tried leaving early to get out there before it got too hot, but the way back was hot! Next time we’ll have to head out even earlier. I was so hot and tired by the time I got home. There was a noticeable temperature change in the sun versus in the shade, the kind where you catch yourself gravitating toward any little patch of shadow along the path just for a moment of relief. I wish we had more tree cover along the roads in my neighborhood! It’s something I think about every summer, especially on walks like this one.

When I got home I had two glasses of water with Cira electrolytes mixed in. I think I have five different flavors. They’re my current favorite electrolyte, and I stocked up the last time they were on sale, so my cupboard is fully stocked for the rest of the summer. I was sweating so much just from walking that by the time I got home, I was so thirsty. I figured electrolytes were exactly what I needed to help me feel human again.

By the time I got home it was 11 am and was hungry, so I made myself a smoothie. It had vanilla protein powder, frozen fruit, Greek yogurt, and a splash of water. It was just what I needed. Not only did it help to cool me off, but it was also delicious. The above photo of the smoothie is from earlier in the week, but it’s the same one I had yesterday. I just made again because I clearly can’t get enough of it.

All in all, it was a great morning. A good walk, good company, and a good excuse for a smoothie after. I hope this inspired you to get outside this weekend, whether that’s a walk with a friend, a solo stroll with some music, or just sitting outside with your coffee. Whatever you get up to, I hope you have a fun, relaxing weekend. Talk soon!

The post A Morning Walk appeared first on Get Fit Fiona.

Walking

Even though my 5K is over, I’m still enjoying walks. Now that it’s summer and the weather is hotter, I’m mostly doing my walks in the mornings and evenings. I inherited really fair skin from my mom, so I’m one of those people who is always wearing sunscreen and a hat and trying to avoid the mid-day sun as much as possible.

I have a friend that I go for lots of walks with, and it’s so nice to be able to catch up with her while also being active. We have a few favorite parks that we like to go to, but our last walk was at a spot in my neighborhood that was new to both of us. Somehow I’d never been there before, and she agreed to check it out with me. I’m so glad we went, because it turned out to be such a pretty spot with lots of green space and trees.

Pickleball

I signed up for pickleball lessons! Pickleball is brand new to me. I hadn’t even picked up a pickleball racket until my first lesson. THe last time I even played a racket sport was back in high school over 20 years ago. I’ve attended the first two lessons so far, and I’ve already learned so much. I’m really enjoying it, even though some of the different shots still feel very weird to be doing.

I signed up for beginner lessons, and there are only one or two other people in the class who are as new to pickleball as I am. Everyone else has at least some experience with it.

I have to admit that it’s much more of a workout than I was expecting. Or maybe that’s just because I’m constantly running after the balls I’ve missed getting back over the net. After my first lesson I was so sweaty, sweatier than I’ve been in a long time. Needless to say, it’s a great workout.

When I was looking for lessons, I had a couple of options I was seriously considering. I’m glad I went with the one I did, because I feel like my four lessons will give me a much better foundation than the two lessons I would have gotten at a different community centre.

Fitness Marshall

I’ve also been keeping up with my Fitness Marshall workouts online, and I’m still having so much fun with them. They’re honestly one of the best fitness investments I’ve made this year, and I mean that. There’s something about dance cardio that just doesn’t feel like exercise in the way other workouts do, even though I’m definitely getting my heart rate up and breaking a sweat by the end.

Caleb, Allison, and Haley are the ones leading most of the videos I do, and they’ve each got such different energy that keeps things interesting. Caleb brings this playful, larger than life energy that makes me laugh even when I’m out of breath. I’m never bored, and it makes the 30 minutes feel like it flies by.

I’ve enjoyed other dance cardio workouts in the past, so it makes sense that I’d click with these too. But what keeps me coming back to Fitness Marshall specifically is how approachable the routines feel even when they’re challenging. I never feel like I need to be a dancer to keep up, I just need to show up and move. Some days that’s exactly the kind of workout I need, one where I can just press play and let the music carry me through instead of overthinking every step.

Looking back at everything I’ve been up to this summer, from walking with my friend, to sweating my way through pickleball lessons, to dancing along with Caleb, Allison, and Haley, I’m reminded that staying active doesn’t have to look one specific way. Some days it’s slow and social, other days it’s a little chaotic and competitive, and other days it’s just me and my living room. All of it counts, and all of it has been a lot of fun.

The post My Workouts Lately appeared first on Get Fit Fiona.

Good morning! It’s time for another round of Friday Favorites, where I share a few things I’ve been loving lately. This week is a fun mix: a hobby I’m getting back into, a show I fell hard for the second time around, and a little self-care tool that’s become part of my routine. Let’s get into it.

Baking

I’ve always enjoyed baking, ever since high school. Whether it was cookies or cakes, I had fun making delicious desserts. I hadn’t done much baking over the last year or so, but recently I’ve picked it back up.

A couple weeks ago I made some blueberry muffins. Granted, they were from a mix, but they were still delicious. Then this past weekend I made some peanut butter cookies. I used a different recipe rather than my favorite one. Needless to say, it wasn’t great. My first batch of cookies came out of the oven nearly burnt on the edges. They also needed extra flour because they were overly wet. Lesson learned: next time I’ll be going back to my usual peanut butter cookie recipe that I know creates delicious cookies!

Only Murders in the Building

I remember watching at least part of the first season with my boyfriend when it first came out. I liked it, but then we never watched any more of it after that for some reason.

Fast forward to last week and I decided to watch it again. Since it had been years, I decided to start over from the first episode of season one. Maybe I just don’t remember liking it this much, but I’m enjoying it even more this time around than I did the first time I watched it.

Three neighbors (Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez) in a building in New York City decide to start a podcast about a murder in their building. The first season follows them trying to solve the murder and ruling out the other people living in the building as suspects.

Episodes are shorter (30 to 35 minutes), which I appreciate. I usually have a hard time sitting still for movies if I’m watching them at home alone. I hardly ever make it through a movie in one sitting by myself. So having shorter episodes of Only Murders in the Building is perfect for me.

Massage Stick

A few days ago I bought a massage stick. I’d been considering getting one for a week, and I finally added it to my cart and clicked buy. I’m so glad I did because I’m already loving it!

I’ve seen other people use them on blogs and social media, but until lately I never really felt the need to use one. I don’t know if it’s because of getting older or what, but I get stiff more often lately. And the stiffness isn’t even caused by workouts. It’s sitting in the car for too long, or not moving enough throughout the day on a rest day.

I’ve always had tight calves, and lately they’ve been extra tight. I have no idea why. Coincidentally, tight calves are related to plantar fasciitis. I’ve dealt with that for years, though thankfully not lately. I figured a couple minutes with a massage stick on my calves would help, and it definitely has.

It’s super easy to use. Not only have I been using it on my calves, but also my quads and hamstrings. My legs feel amazing every single time I’ve used it so far.

It’s still a bit of a weird thing, taking care of my body like this. In the middle of my eating disorder, I would have blamed my body for being stiff, and figured the way to make it better would be to work out more or eat less. Caring for my body still feels a little foreign sometimes. But in this situation, it’s so clear to me that instead of punishing my body for feeling stiff, the right decision is to take care of it.

That’s it for this week’s favorites! Between rediscovering my love of baking, getting sucked back into a great show, and finding a new way to take care of my body, it’s been a good reminder that the small things really do add up. What have you been loving this week? I’d love to hear in the comments.

The post Friday Favorites: Baking + Only Murders in the Building appeared first on Get Fit Fiona.

I love being outdoors, and it’s no surprise if you’ve been around here for a while that I’m a huge fan of hikes. I thought I’d put together a blog post all about some easy Calgary hikes. You don’t need to drive for hours to get to any of these, and there’s no tough elevation gain required either. These are the kinds of spots you can visit on a whim after work or on a lazy weekend morning, no big planning required.

I’ll be sharing my top five spots, including one all time favorite that I’ve been going to for nearly two decades now. A co-worker told me about it years ago, and I’m so glad she did. It didn’t take me long to fall in love with it, and it’s still the first place I think of when I want to get outside.

If you’re looking for hikes outside of the city, be sure to check out my hiking page. You can find everything from hikes I’ve done to hiking tips and gear over there.

Bowmont Park

Bowmont Park, in NW Calgary, is my absolute favorite spot in the city. There are areas in it that don’t even feel like I’m in a city of over 1.5 million people. It runs along the north side of the Bow River, so there are lots of incredible views. It’s big too, so there are lots of different pathways to discover. I don’t think I’ve ever been there and had it feel busy. It’s just so big that you can always find a spot to yourself.

I first discovered Bowmont nearly 20 years ago when a co-worker told me about a park she walked in often. I knew she lived near me, so I was curious to know where she went. I’m so glad she mentioned it, because it’s become my favorite place to walk in Calgary, and somewhere I still return to again and again all these years later.

I’ve seen all kinds of wildlife in Bowmont, including deer and coyotes. The deer sighting happened one morning when I was there just after sunrise. I was sitting on a bench at the top of a hill, and a deer came running up toward me. I think we surprised each other just as much. If coyotes have been spotted, the city will often put out warning signs, so keep an eye out for those. Parts of Bowmont are off leash, so be sure to take heed if you’re walking your dog.

Bowmont has both paved and unpaved paths. It even has a boardwalk down into Waterfall Valley, and it’s just as pretty as it sounds. It feels like walking down into a fairy tale, and at the end you’re rewarded with the prettiest little waterfall and a view of the Bow River. Depending on how energetic you’re feeling, there’s a path for you. If you’re feeling like a leisurely stroll, there are flat parts along the the top of the park. If you’re craving more of a workout with some hills to climb, that exists too in Bowmont.

I don’t think I’m doing Bowmont Park justice. It’s beautiful in every season, whether it’s fresh snow along the paths in winter or wildflowers in bloom come summer, and it has gorgeous views of the Bow River no matter when you visit. If you’re looking for a spot inside the city for a taste of nature, Bowmont is the place to go.

Edworthy Park

Edworthy Park is located centrally in SW Calgary. It runs along both sides of the Bow River, with a pedestrian bridge connecting the two. There are lots of pathways to explore, with some really pretty views of both the city and the river. It also has an off leash area if you want to bring your dog along.

In addition to walking and hiking paths, there are quite a few amenities there too, like washrooms, firepits, picnic shelters and tables, and playgrounds. Even with all those amenities, there are parts of Edworthy that feel like you’re right in the middle of nature, tucked away from the city around it.

If you’re visiting Edworthy Park in 2026, it’s worth noting that construction on a new watermain is ongoing, so parking may be a bit more complicated than usual. I’ve never had trouble finding a spot there without the construction, but it may be different right now. I’m hoping it wraps up soon so it’s back to normal.

Fish Creek Park

I’ve only been to Fish Creek Park once, years ago, but this list of easy Calgary hikes wouldn’t be complete without it. Although Fish Creek is entirely within the city limits, it’s actually a provincial park, and it’s absolutely giant, so there’s tons of ground to cover no matter where you enter.

In various parts of Fish Creek, you’ll find picnic tables, washrooms, mountain bike trails, firepits, swimming, and fishing. Be sure to check any posted warnings before getting into or close to the water though, as sometimes being in the water isn’t recommended depending on conditions.

Nose Hill Park

Nose Hill Park is another park in NW Calgary that I’ve spent lots of time at. It’s actually one of the biggest municipal parks in North America. It sits in the middle of prairie grasslands, so there’s lots of tall grasses and wildflowers scattered throughout. I worked with wildflowers for nearly 15 years, so being able to see them out in nature like this is always a treat for me.

There are lots of gentle rolling hills, as the name implies, so it definitely feels more like a hike than a leisurely stroll. There are plenty of access points to the park, including several with their own parking lots. Fun bit of local trivia, in high school one of the parking lots at the top of a hill was known as a popular makeout spot.

I’ve seen lots of wildlife up on Nose Hill, including deer. There are also some really pretty views of Calgary from up there, including downtown. Hiking from one end of the park to the other can take hours, so make sure you’re properly prepared with good shoes, water, and snacks if you decide to attempt the whole thing.

Twelve Mile Coulee

Twelve Mile Coulee is in the far NW part of Calgary. There are both paved and unpaved pathways, as well as a couple of off leash areas for dogs. I didn’t actually know what a coulee was when I first heard the word. According to google, it’s essentially a deep ravine. As the name implies, this park runs along the top of and down into one, so be prepared for some hills.

There have been plenty of times when I’ve been very grateful to come across a bench to rest on for a minute. It’s another one of those parks where it doesn’t feel like you’re in a big city at all. Down in the bottom of it there’s a small creek and lots of shade thanks to all the trees. Like I mentioned above, there are a few off leash areas, so it’s a popular spot for dog walkers.

Some pathways can be a bit tight, so be sure to stay aware of your surroundings and other trail users as you go. Just like Nose Hill, Twelve Mile Coulee has a mix of native grasses and wildflowers. There’s something so cool about seeing what nature would have looked like before Calgary was here, right in the middle of the city. The coulee leads south down to the Bow River and Baker Park, and you can even make your way along the Stoney Trail pedestrian bridge and into Bowness Park from there.

Wrap Up

If you’re looking for a fun hike to do without leaving Calgary, be sure to check out Bowmont, Edworthy, Fish Creek, Nose Hill, or Twelve Mile Coulee. While some of the landscapes can be similar, each of these parks has its own unique feel, so it’s worth exploring more than one.

If you only check out one, I highly recommend Bowmont. It’s my absolute favorite out of all of them. It has a little bit of everything while still feeling like you have lots of space to yourself, and the views are honestly unbeatable.

If you’re from Calgary too, what’s your best spot for an easy Calgary hike? I’d love to hear about your favorite in the comments. And if you’re visiting Calgary, check out my day trips from Calgary post, my weekend trips from Calgary post, and my Cochrane day trip post for even more ideas.

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What Is Bruschetta?

Bruschetta is a mixture of tomato, onion, garlic, basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and seasonings. It’s an appetizer typically served on bread or toast, think French or Italian bread, sliced on the thicker side and soft in the middle.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It’s made with vegetables that are at their peak ripeness in summer, and there’s nothing better than a tomato picked fresh from the garden earlier in the day. This is also a super quick recipe to put together. The bruschetta topping only requires chopping and mixing, while the cheesy toast just needs a few minutes in the oven. It’s one of those appetizers that’s a huge crowd pleaser, because who doesn’t love fresh vegetables on crusty bread? And if you’re a vegetarian like I am, this recipe doesn’t require any modifications at all. If you’re looking for some more summer themed food, check out how I build satisfying salads.

How to Make Easy Summer Bruschetta (Step by Step)

Start by dicing the tomatoes into small pieces and chopping the basil. Add both to a medium bowl along with the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, salt, and pepper, then toss everything together to combine. Set the mixture aside while you prepare the bread.

Slice the bread into 12 pieces on a slight angle and arrange them on a parchment lined baking sheet. Sprinkle each slice with parmesan, then place the baking sheet under the oven broiler for 2 to 3 minutes, watching closely, until the bread is golden. Once toasted, top each slice with the tomato mixture and serve right away.

Tips for the Best Bruschetta

My first and biggest tip is to use ripe tomatoes. If you have a garden, there’s absolutely nothing like freshly picked tomatoes to make bruschetta with. If you don’t have a garden, grocery store bought is fine, just make sure they’re ripe. Tomatoes are the star of this recipe, so make sure they have as much flavor as possible.

If you want to use homemade bread and try something a bit different, try my sourdough focaccia recipe. Homemade bread always tastes so much better than store bought, so if you have the time to make it, why not?

How to Store Leftovers

Leftovers are easy to take care of. Simply store the bruschetta in an airtight container for up to 2 days. I actually think it tastes even better the next day, once the flavors have had time to meld.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make bruschetta ahead of time?

Absolutely! Like I mentioned above, I think it tastes better the next day.

What kind of bread is best for bruschetta?

I like crusty bread with a soft interior, think French or Italian bread. But you can also use whatever you have on hand.

Print

Easy Summer Bruschetta Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil

A light, flavorful appetizer made with juicy tomatoes, fresh herbs, and a tasty sauce. Served overtoasted bread, it’s crisp, simple, and full of fresh garden flavor.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Italian

Keyword Appetizer

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 3 minutes minutes

Servings 12

Ingredients

• ½ loaf French baguette cut into 12 slices (discarding the ends)
• ¼ cup shredded parmesan
• 4 roma tomatoes diced
• ⅓ cup chopped fresh basil
• 1 ½ tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• ½ tsp pepper
• ½ tsp salt

Instructions

• Dice the tomatoes into small pieces, and chop the basil.
• Add the tomatoes, basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, salt and peppers to a medium bowl and toss to combine. Set aside.
• Slice the bread into 12 pieces on a slight angle. Arrange on a parchment lined baking sheet.
• Top each bread slice with a sprinkle of parmesan and put under the oven broiler for 2-3 minutes, until golden.
• Top the bread slices with the tomato mixture and serve.

I really hope that this easy summer bruschetta recipe hits the spot for you, your family, and your guests. Bruschetta is a staple in our house, and for good reason. It’s quick and easy to make while also being full of flavor and so pretty to look at. If you’re interested, you can find more easy recipes on my recipes page. If you make bruschetta, be sure to tag me on Instagram. I’d love to see how it turned out!

The post Easy Summer Bruschetta Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil appeared first on Get Fit Fiona.

June flew by, didn’t it? Between the warmer weather, getting outside more, and gearing up for Stampede season here in Calgary, I somehow still managed to fit in a solid stack of reading. This month ended up being such a fun mix, a swoony love story, a deep dive into reality TV history, some small town romance, two old favorites from my childhood, and one seriously heavy nonfiction read that’s been sitting with me ever since I finished it. Here’s everything I read in June, in the order I finished them.

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

This was definitely my favorite book that I read this month. While I had heard lots about her books before, this was the first one by Taylor Jenkins Reid that I’ve read. I’m so glad I did because I absolutely loved it. You better believe I’m going to be reading more of her books in the future.

Atmosphere is a love story that takes place during the 80’s at NASA. The main character, Joan, is training to become a female astronaut, which was a huge deal back then. I don’t want to share too much else and ruin it if you haven’t read it yet, but it’s so good. I fell in love with the characters and it was so interesting to get a peek into what it was like at NASA during that time. If you’ve ever wondered what it would have felt like to be one of the first women breaking into the space program, this book puts you right there.

Cue the Sun! by Emily Nussbaum

While I had started listening to Cue the Sun! back in May, I finally finished it this month. If you’re in your 40’s like I am and were a teen when reality TV first started, I think you’ll really enjoy this book. It was so interesting to hear about how reality TV had its roots in radio back in the 1940’s, and how it’s evolved since then. There was a lot about Survivor, probably because that was a huge show back when it first premiered. I remember being in high school and everyone talking about it.

If you’re at all interested in pop culture or TV, this is such an interesting book. I remember a lot of the shows that they discussed. It’s funny looking back to see what networks thought would be the “next big hit,” which were actually just terrible shows. It made me a little nostalgic for the early 2000’s TV landscape. Back then everyone was watching the same handful of shows and talking about them the next day.

The Afghanistan Papers by Craig Whitlock

This was the second audiobook I finished this month. It was definitely a heavy topic, but it was so worth listening to. Craig Whitlock is a journalist, so there were lots of details and facts to back up what he wrote.

The Afghanistan Papers covers the US war with Afghanistan starting with the 2001 invasion and ending with the US withdrawal 20 years later in 2021. The book covers the Bush, Obama, Trump, and finally Biden presidencies and how each one dealt with what they were doing (or not able to do) in Afghanistan. So much went wrong there, and the US government didn’t want to admit that things were going sideways. This isn’t a light read by any means, but if you’re someone who likes to really understand the events that shaped the last couple of decades, I think you’ll find it as eye opening as I did.

Wake Up Calls by Mariah Stewart

This is the third book I’ve read by Mariah Stewart, and I enjoyed it just as much as the other two. There’s something about the way that she writes about her characters that makes them feel so real, like people you’d actually want to grab coffee with. And the communities she creates in her books have a Stars Hollow feel to them. If you’re a fan of Gilmore Girls, you’ll know what I mean.

The main character, Kit, finds out that an aunt she didn’t even know she had has left her a camp in small town Maine. She initially goes to clean out the house her aunt lived in to prepare to sell the house and camp, but ends up learning of a family mystery that she wants to solve before she goes back home. It’s cozy, it’s a little mysterious, and it made me want to plan a trip to a small Maine town immediately.

The Sky Beneath Her by Mary Ellen Taylor

This one was a dual timeline book. Present day Tula has come back to the small coastal North Carolina town where her mother died seven years ago while diving a shipwreck that was torpedoed by the Nazis during WWII. In the second timeline during WWII, an Austrian woman is escaping an abusive relationship by heading to the US. Unfortunately she’s on the ship that gets hit by a German sub, and the book follows her journey.

While the ship that gets torpedoed, the Oceanus, is fictional, the coast off North Carolina was dubbed “torpedo junction” because so many ships were hit by the Germans there. It was so interesting to learn about how close WWII got to the mainland US, something I honestly never learned much about in school. If you’re at all interested in torpedo junction, or just enjoy WWII books, I recommend The Sky Beneath Her. The dual timeline kept me hooked, and I loved how the two women’s stories slowly connected.

A Little Nostalgia Trip: Revisiting Nancy Drew

Nancy Drew: A Race Against Time
Nancy Drew and the Mystery of the Ivory Charm

I read two Nancy Drew books this month, slowly making progress on the ones I’ve been collecting from thrift stores. A Race Against Time was a newer one from the early 2000’s, while The Mystery of the Ivory Charm is one of the old yellow cover ones published back in the 1930’s. While the newer ones are fun to read, I really enjoy the old ones. There’s something so nostalgic about them, and not just because I read them as a kid. There’s a charm to the old fashioned language and the slower pace that you just don’t find in newer mystery books. It’s such an easy, comforting palate cleanser between heavier reads.

Favorite Read of the Month

Like I mentioned above, my favorite book from this month was definitely Atmosphere. It’s one of those books that sticks with you long after you’ve finished the last page. I found myself thinking about Joan and her story for days after I finished it. A close second is Wake Up Calls. Honestly, between the two of them, June felt like a really strong month for fiction.

Currently Reading / Up Next

I just started reading Mad Mabel, the latest book by Sally Hepworth. I’ve read most of her books, and I can already tell I’m going to really enjoy reading this one too. If you haven’t read anything by her yet, I recommend starting with The Secrets of Midwives. It’s my favorite book of hers and a great introduction to her writing if you’re new to her work. I’m hoping July brings another good mix of books, maybe another nonfiction pick to balance out all the fiction.

Let’s Chat

Now that you know what I’ve been reading lately, I’d love to hear from you. Have you read any of these books? Did you love Atmosphere as much as I did, or were you a Wake Up Calls person? I’m always looking for new recommendations, especially as I build out my summer reading list, so drop your latest favorite read in the comments below. I read every single one, and your suggestions usually end up on my own list before I know it!

The post What I Read in June appeared first on Get Fit Fiona.