That trending audio on social media is one that felt like it spoke to my soul the first time I heard it. I would click on the audio and watch as people around the world found beauty in sometimes the smallest and most simple things. It made me realize that amid the insanely busy pace I have been running this year, I am very grateful for the romantic lens through which I see my own life and accomplishments. For years I was deemed “sensitive” or a “hopeless romantic” and more often than not, it was used against me as an attack instead of the compliment I thought it was. But I love the fact that getting on a bike and chasing a summer sunset feeds an inner desire to live life more beautifully. Click here to see what I mean.
For those of you who follow along with Julio & I on social media, you’ll know that for years we’ve been talking about how much we have wanted to get ourselves bicycles in order to not only enjoy the destinations we travel to together, but also to help make our everyday lives more accessible. Yes, Julio is learning to drive (sometimes much to my chagrin!) but he also loves the freedom that a bike can bring when he just needs to clear his head.
I know I can be a lot, so I totally get it.
It’s why when I stopped to think about making small changes to help romanticize my / our lives this year, I knew it was time to actually bite the proverbial bullet. It’s funny because I am very aware that I’m sharing the concept of getting bikes for my husband and I at the tail end of the summer, but I am also an October baby, so this is my season coming up.
We had been circling our local Sport Chek for months looking through their options and checking their website. We finally made the decision to order our bikes and when we got the notification that they had been built and were ready for pickup, it was off to to get all of the accesories we needed as new bicycle owners.
Amid picking up our new bikes (below) we also were able to ask questions from the team members working about a car rack, a storage rack for our home (since we prefer to keep the bikes inside), helmets and bike locks. A one stop shop as we finally brought our dream to life!
What bikes did we choose and why? Glad you asked.
Julio opted for the Diamondback Greenway 27.5″ Urban Bike, 7 Speed, Aluminum Frame, Mechanical Disc Brakes, Commuter
Why? Well he loves the green colour and its light weight make it easy for him to carry it down the stairs and out the front door from our townhome in Ottawa. It’s the quick bike that he needs to let out all that energy and it makes me so happy to see him really loving having this as a part of his life both for work and for adventures around the city with me.
What bicycle did I opt for? I loved the idea of a retro vibe, and the ability to use a basket to carry home small loads of groceries or to put down a backpack vs wearing it and getting all sweaty while biking around the city.
For that reason, I opted for the Diamondback Greenway 27.5″ Urban Bike, 8 Speed, Aluminum Frame, Mechanical Disc Brakes, Commuter
I love that it feels both modern and a nod the past. I am quite literally obsessed with the front compartment, and have been riding it around Ottawa (and even Toronto – she came with me to set for Cityline recently) as much as I can amid a busy schedule. That’s really been the important part in all of this, is to remember to make time to appreciate a simple thing like a sunset bike ride with Julio to enjoy the beauty of life.
While I of course understand that making an investment in yourself like this might be out of reach, it’s important to remember (at least in my opinion) that we’ve been planning this for a very long time and have made sure to make the right choices, asked lots of questions, and know that in the long run, this investment is more than just a purchase.
If you’re in the market for a romanticizing of your life like I have been this year, I encourage you to check out the Sport Chek website or head into your local Spork Chek to ask the questions that you may have. Our online and in store experience were amazing and I highly encourage you to explore the ways in which you can add to your life and maybe finally bring a romantic idea to life like we just have.
Photos: Daniel Reyes Cocka and participating brands
Don’t forget to be kind & laugh a little more this year
*Please note that this may be a sponsored post and promotional consideration may have been offered by participating brands – our disclosure can be found at all times by clicking here.