February was a short month that felt like it lasted forever. March was a long month that felt like it was over in approximately two days.
Neither perspective is accurate, but both months paved the way for some new-to-me favourites.
The F.I.G. Collective

We have needed our umbrellas of gratitude this year. I am beyond humbled by the sheer number of everyday joys and blessings people noted in February. Thanks to everyone who participated and I hope, for many of you, it provided renewed enthusiasm for your gratitude journey!
MERINO BASE LAYER
Kyria had a credit for a Canadian outfitting store that doesn’t ship to the US and she kindly gifted me the credit.
One of the things I purchased was my first merino wool base layer – Icebreaker 175 Everyday Long Sleeve. It’s comfortable, it’s light, it’s warm. Check, check, check!
Thank you, Kyria!
RICOLA

My kids tend to dislike cough drops and I agree – most taste sickly and medicinal. I have long preferred Ricola (over, say, Halls), but the kids never used them. John brought a bag home from a trip overseas and when Belle was down and out with a horrific cough in February, she started reaching for Ricola. It always feels like a parenting win to find a product your kids accept to help offset the symptoms of an illness.
MAGNESIUM GLYCINATE

I’ve been using magnesium citrate for years (Natural Calm), but I absolutely HATED the taste and hated the process of adding powder to warm water. Such a nuisance.
Magnesium (bis)glycinate has solved that problem and I find it really helps with muscle relaxation and recovery after lifting weights. Here’s the brand I’m currently using. It has also been very effective in helping one of our kids who is periodically affected by growing pains.
WORKOUT VIDEOS

How crazy is it I can enter just about any search string – specifying the length of time, the amount of weight, the type of exercise – and get thousands of options?
Between home workouts and videos to follow while lifting at the gym, I have been loving YouTube workout videos.
MANGO BUBLY
My go-to favourite sparkling water has been PC Grapefruit, but Mango Bubly is quickly becoming a close second!
CREPES
Funny story. A few weeks ago, Alexandra left a comment where I misread what she had written. (How I got crepe from cheap I’ll never know, but I’m so glad I had that mental misfire.)

We have had crepes three times in the last two weeks! I’ve used this simple recipe and it has received enthusiastic thumbs up from everyone in the house. Last night for supper we had savoury crepes with egg, prosciutto, and cheese. So good!
FRENCH PATISSERIE

In a trip with so many memorable desserts, this tarte au citron probably takes top billing (though the pain au chocolat aux amandes I had in Auvers-sur-Oise – and proceeded to inhale so quickly I have no pictorial evidence of it’s existence – was also incredible).
Your turn.
- What were some of your favourite things in February and March?
- Do you own any merino base layers?
- What’s your favourite flavour of sparkling water?
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coco
Crepe is one of my favorite food from Paris, if not my favorite! I wish I could replicate it at home and eat more often. So satisfying and simple, right?
So many favorites in March despite so many ups and downs due to the move. what comes to mind is my husband for handling the packing and finalizing the move while I was away for two weeks. Now we are both in constant tiredness and needing a nap throughout the day due to accumulated fatigue.
I don’t owe merino as I haven’t lived in a cold place for so long.
Maria
I don’t personally own any merino base layers but the kids do and I notice a huge difference in how long they can stay out in very cold weather when wearing their “woolies” as they call them.
Sparkling water is something I get an intense craving for when pregnant. The rest of the time I like it but don’t usually bother to buy it. I usually tend towards citrus flavours. Grapefruit is a favourite even though I can’t stand actual grapefruit!
Nicole MacPherson
I do have merino base layers – for cross country skiing and for snowshoeing! I think I got them from Mark’s. Am I a Mark’s spokesperson now? A Mark’s influencer? MAYBE I AM!
I literally remember nothing at the moment of February and March. I should actually reference my blog. It’s like they are wiped off the face of the earth! WHAT HAPPENED IN THOSE MONTHS! Oh yeah, I went to Mexico, that was probably my most favourite thing! How could I forget?
I haven’t tried the mango flavour, but I like lime Bubly, and they had a Merry Berry one at Christmas which was great!
Jenny
HA! No need for wool base layers here. I do have a current favorite flavor of sparkling water though- it’s the Waterloo brand, blackberry lemonade.
Let’s see… February and March kind of blur together for me too. I would say a favorite thing that happened was that I started going to the chiropractor for low back adjustments, and it feels SO MUCH BETTER.
Michelle G.
My favorite thing today was getting a Paris postcard from YOU! I love the one you chose for me. Thank you – it really brightened my day!