A Weekend in Montreal
and a few of my favorite things
Welcome to my weekly newsletter, where I share what I’ve been thinking about lately, what I’ve been reading (of course), and other favorite things from here and there. I’m pondering a different newsletter name, something other than Chelsey Reads. The only other name I came up with is “Chelsey Is Bossy” because I like to give advice (and yeah, I am bossy). Like most of my projects, it probably just needs some time to roll around in my brain while I write and put the work out there and see what happens.
By the way, I’m currently typing this in my living room where the heat is dropping approximately one degree per minute because the furnace hasn’t been working for almost two months now. Yes, HVAC people have traipsed through here once per week. No, there is no end in sight. I just thought I would share that bit of real life before I talk about Montréal and make it seem like I’m a glamorous international traveler.
Weekend Getaway in Montréal
Our Thanksgiving weekend trips started in 2016 when my husband Curtis returned from Army training, and we planned a trip to look forward to while he was away. The thing about military vacation time: it’s rare, and it’s often used to visit family (not that we’re complaining, but living far away is tough in many ways). Thanksgiving is an easy holiday compromise, providing us with an opportunity to explore new cities and connect just-the-two-of-us. This year, with the Canadian border in easy driving distance, Montréal was an obvious choice, as we go for three things on our weekend trips: walking, eating, and looking at stuff (books, museums, shops, etc.). I’m a city girl at heart and immediately fell in love. With its European atmosphere and darling city cafes, Montréal charmed us. We have other Canadian destinations in mind for future trips, but I wouldn’t mind stopping to see Montréal again.
AirBnB
We stayed in a cute little apartment, five minutes away from transportation. There were plenty of restaurants within walking distance, including a hip cocktail bar and tiny breakfast nook. Penny was welcome and comfortable, although steep stairs with a hyper dog was a little nerve-wracking (for me, not for her). The place was clean, the bed was comfy, and that’s all I need in an AirBnB.
Restaurants
Stash Cafe: cozy, traditional Polish restaurant. I think that Antoni mentioned it in his cookbook? Still dreaming about the pierogis.
Barroco: swanky steakhouse. This was our one splurge meal, and it was totally worth it.
St. Viateur Bagels: I LOVE BREAD.
Sights
Notre-Dame Basilica: This was the most touristy stop on our list. It’s a two minute walk from the subway station and on-the-way to cute cafes in the historic Port of Montréal, so we had to pop in. Lit candles and nativity scenes made for a beautiful transition to Christmastime.
Archeological Museum: As we were on our way to the subway, I turned to Curtis and told him, “I’m so glad you love to walk around and look at stuff.” Because that’s one of my favorite things to do - in museums, in new neighborhoods, at an outdoor outlet mall. This museum featured unique exhibits: Into the Wonder Room, The Incas. The Wonder Room exhibit reminded me of Veronica Speedwell and her exotic butterfly collection, and I think of it whenever I come across “cabinet of curiosity” references in Victorian era novels.
St. Laurent Blvd: Another fun walking spot. I found a plant shop, a paperie, and a rustic home goods store. We didn’t intend to stroll along the whole street, but it was serendipitously on our way to the next place, and I love when that happens.
Bookstores
Librairie Bertrand: French and English selection of new fiction, mystery, and local authors.
Drawn & Quarterly: French and English children’s bookstore, full of color and graphic novels.
Argo Bookshop: used and new English bookstore, a teeny tiny nook on a busy street.
Montréal Boot Inspiration
On our first outing in Montréal, Curtis said, “you look very French,” and color me smug - do you know how CHIC everyone looks in their chunky sweaters, high-waisted jeans, and black boots while speaking French on the subway? I was mistaken for a local a handful of times, and now I’m unbearably full of myself. I am très fashionable. The one thing I’m missing is a pair of weather-proof black boots, perfect with rolled-up jeans or socks and leggings, essential for tromping around in the snow. I’m hoping to pick some up in the end-of-winter sales. Here are some that remind me of boot-gazing on the Montréal subway:
Giftable Favorites
This year, I’ve been updating my wardrobe to resemble a more “experienced professional educator” than “enthusiastic beginner teacher.” Now that I teach some college classes where the adults are older than me, I try to project a more sophisticated image. Finding a functional and affordable work bag to carry my laptop, notebooks, folders, and current read was a top priority. My mom has been using this tote for awhile and loves it, so she sent one to me as an early Christmas present. I also purchased this easy-to-grab wristlet and a helpful tote organizer to make this bag even more day-to-night-class friendly.
I got LOTS of compliments on the lipstick above. It’s a Bite Beauty sample in Persimmon, and I absolutely thought it would be too orange for me, but I ended up loving it. Bite seems to be reformulating? Repackaging? They’re doing something with their lipsticks, and almost everything is out of stock. In the meantime, my other favorite natural lipstick comes from Ilia, and you can find a comparable formula and red-orange shade with their Color Block High Impact lipstick in Flame. I also love their mascara brush and formula. I switch back and forth between Ilia and Thrive mascara, depending on who’s running discounts or BOGO deals.
HSP Holiday Tips
Huddle up, fellow introverts/empaths/highly sensitive people. The holidays can be a fraught and stressful time for us even if everything is merry and bright. Travel, parties, and all of the EMOTIONS can leave us depleted, cranky, and oh so very exhausted. It’s taken a few years and many post-holiday crashes to recognize my unique needs and coping strategies. I had a whole essay planned in my head for this, but my new favorite Instagram account, @expansiveheart, started posting the best tips, including some of my time-tested favorites. Follow them for more HSP encouragement!
Add a buffer day to your calendar: we travel for the holidays and stay with family for 10-14 days before heading back home. After our first couple years of doing this, I established the rule that we always leave on Friday or Saturday, giving us a “buffer” day to be at home and recover before going back to work. For me, this ONE DAY is the difference between starting the work week refreshed and clear-headed versus dragging myself through an entire week with low energy.
Plan ahead: a couple of weeks before we leave, I ask each side of the family for a list of events. I write a little calendar in my bullet journal or create a shared Google doc with my husband, and we find a pocket of time to step away for our annual Christmas bookstore date. Knowing expectations ahead of time helps lessen my anxiety and plan some down time.
Make sleep a priority: naps naps naps naps naps naps naps naps naps naps naps naps naps naps naps naps EVERYBODY. By about day four of Christmas festivities, if I don’t take a nap I will either snap at someone, cry, or stare at the wall while everyone else gets festive around me. I don’t know how to explain this to non-HSPs or extroverts. My system just crashes after a certain amount of human interaction, and I NEED A NAP.
Maintain routines: This one gets away from me every year. It’s really tough to maintain a routine when you aren’t staying in your own home, or when every day looks different. This year, I’m going to try sticking to a morning and evening routine of tea, reading, and journaling. Walking Penny every day helps me get some movement in, and taking a bath most nights is often my introvert down time.
I also appreciate when my mom declares pajama days with no plans, and I remind myself that while being hyper-sensitive to everyone’s emotions can be exhausting, it’s also a gift. My introversion might look like I’m “high maintenance” to some people, but my boundaries are none of their business. My mental health is just as important during a family party as it is during a regular day at work. By saying “no” or taking time to rest, I am giving people the best version of myself. Repeat that mantra as needed.
Recent Reads
I thoroughly enjoyed How the Dukes Stole Christmas, a collection of novellas by a few of my favorite romance authors. Each story puts a historical romance spin on a classic Christmas movie. Joanna Shupe based her installment on Christmas in Connecticut, which I had to watch as soon as I finished the audiobook. Pick it up if you need something a little steamier than the Hallmark Channel.
While in Montreal, I started Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips. Told in the aftermath of a kidnapping on the Russian Kamchatka Peninsula, each chapter reads like its own short story. This is not a thriller, or even a mystery, though we do find out how each story is connected in the end. It’s a story of community, grief, and womanhood. I’m looking forward to more of Phillips’ work.
TBR list
Many of my trusted #bookstagram friends have recommended In the Dream House, and I can’t wait to read it.
Podcast
Episode 43: Favorite Books of 2019 plus Reading Goals
Internet Reads
I love obscure literary history!
Bring on ALL of the 2020 book lists.
Recently taught this poem and I can’t stop thinking about it.
*This newsletter contains affiliate links, which means that I receive a small commission for those sales. Thanks for helping me maintain my lipstick budget.