【手记143】烟火与浪漫，是我最近的日常
静下心整理这几天的生活碎片，平淡琐碎，却处处藏着我喜欢的小欢喜。
对我而言护肤不是攀比，只是日复一日善待自己。我的护肤品一般都是在London drug或者是Costco买的，简约款，不啰嗦，不用品种繁多的，只用合适的。我的美容护肤经验主要是由内到外，平时饮食注意蔬菜为主，肉类为次，这样身体负担小一点；化妆品彩妆少，护肤品多。像我这样年纪的女性，应该以护肤为主，而护肤主要是以油养肤。我在选用护肤品的时候，通常分日霜和夜霜，以前还用眼霜、面膜，现在不用了，觉得没啥效果。在擦护肤品的时候，我会加一滴百洛油，这样皮肤一天都湿润，不容易长皱纹。很多人说我看起来比实际年龄要年轻，这与我“以油养肤”的理念分不开的，从二十七八岁以后，我就非常注重皮肤的保湿，买的护肤品不追求红润，只追求保湿，在这方面花了不少钱。后来我发现只是保湿也不行，皮肤还是干燥，一干燥就会有皱纹。于是，根据美容护肤老师的建议，我从45岁开始就进行以油养肤，就用纯植物的百洛油，在Costco买的，效果很好。
挑选衣服也自有一套标准，不追逐潮流，偏爱简约耐看、贴合自身气质的款式，舒服自在永远排在第一位。我买衣服不追求最贵的，也不要最便宜的，追求中档。就像我图片上我的分身穿的衣服似的，都是在温哥华的metro town的mall里边买的。红色的吊带裙是Lululemon的，粉红色的连衣裙是在三楼的一家专卖店买的，手提包也是橱窗展示的。我拍张照片儿，利用AI将它换到我的分身上，给大家看看我的买衣品味儿，走中档路线。
大半时间都耗在厨房折腾面点，最近捣鼓了国风十足的新中式粽子馒头，菠菜外皮裹满香甜大黄米红枣内馅，中式风味揉进面食里；又烤了清新柔和的抹茶软欧包。前两天，Loblaw旗下的City Market开张，我正好经过，进去逛了逛，感觉这间超市还不错，价钱不贵，品质看起来不错，有一些面包、寿司、速食快餐比较适合打工一族。偶然挖到巧克力酸欧包，微酸麦香搭配浓郁巧克力馅，才4.5加币/个，一个酸欧包有一个大碟子那么大，真合算。中西面包各有风味，慢慢品尝格外治愈。今年我没有种其它的蔬菜，就种了一点儿雪豆。这几天采收了，早上摘一把，用它炒鸡蛋是不错的早餐。
前几天亲戚打电话说广州非常热，问我们温哥华这里有没有空调？说真的，这里很少有人装空调。我们这里夏天一般都是20来度，只有一个礼拜左右达30℃以上，经常是还没把短裤短袖拿出来，天气就凉了。这不，前两天温哥华有30°，我本来准备去车库把电风扇拿出来，可懒得动弹，就从抽屉里找岀迷你小风扇，吹一吹也就不觉得热了，所以在温哥华要想穿裙子要抓紧时间，慢一步没机会穿了。
我的生活不止灶台与独处，也奔赴城市里的热闹。先后参加了本拿比文化节，沉浸式感受多元文化碰撞。这个文化节是在本拿比的kingsway路上，一个日裔文化中心那里举办的，规模不算大，但是内容还挺有特色。除了有儿童游乐区，还有手工艺展览、尤其是还有一个加拿大相亲节目组，男女主持人现场牵线，好多青年男女围观，然后是自由活动，不知道有相亲成功的吗？在相亲节目的旁边，还有一个职场招聘会，有的是招聘中介，比如ISS；有的是某个公司现场招聘，比如T&T，见到有些人在拿资料和咨询。
昨天又赶上“Happy Canada Day”庆典，街头满是欢声笑语，今年的主题是“Canada together”，不同肤色的人欢聚一堂，氛围感拉满。温哥华有好几处都举行盛大的庆祝活动，主要地点有温哥华downtown的Canada place、列治文市的斯蒂文森、还有本拿比市的三个地点，尤其是Central Park的烟花秀。我今年参加的是Canada place那里的活动，一到现场就被中央舞台的Canada together大合唱吸引，忙着用手机拍视频，人实在太多了，镜头杂乱无章，但是每一个到场的人都兴高采烈。大多数人都穿着红白相间的衣服，很多人脸上还彩绘着加拿大国旗，有的小朋友头上戴着有加拿大国旗的头箍，有的人手上拿着迷你的加拿大国旗，还有的人干脆将加拿大国旗披在身上……，到处都是国庆日的喜庆场面。在会议中心对面的美食街上，Food Truck的美食生意好到爆，这次活动还有原住民手工艺展览、家庭活动场所、Canada place 40周年庆活动。我从头到尾都逛了一圈儿，最 后沿着海边徒步，看看水上飞机，拍一拍停靠在岸边的游船，欣赏着单车道上骑行的人群，不知不觉就走到了史丹利公园。这次活动很满意，唯一遗憾的是没有见到士兵大游行，上网查了一下，原来是永久停办了，真可惜。
我总觉得好的生活不需要轰轰烈烈，一边用心经营独处时光，护肤穿搭取悦自己，烘焙安抚情绪；一边走出家门拥抱城市烟火，感受不同文化的温柔。把护肤、穿搭、面点、节庆这些细碎小事认真对待，平凡日子，也满是值得记录的温柔。
Living in Vancouver has truly allowed me to embrace a lifestyle where mindfulness and simplicity reign supreme, and this has significantly influenced my approach toward skincare, fashion, and cultural engagement. Like the author, I find that nurturing my skin goes far beyond superficial treatments; it’s about consistent habits and understanding your skin's unique needs over time. For example, incorporating pure plant oils like those from Costco's selection into my nightly routine has transformed my skin’s moisture retention and prevented the onset of fine lines, especially important as we age. What strikes me most about this approach is the focus on hydration rather than chasing temporary effects like redness or artificially enhanced glow. This mirrors my experience where adopting an 'oil nourishment' philosophy has helped my dry skin become more resilient and supple, especially in the cooler months when environmental factors can be harsh. Beyond skincare, the author's preference for comfortable, quality clothing over fast fashion resonates deeply with me. Shopping locally in community malls such as Metro Town in Vancouver not only supports local businesses but also enables one to find pieces that truly fit and flatter one’s body and lifestyle. I, too, aim for a timeless wardrobe built on pieces that offer both comfort and style, avoiding extremes in price and focusing instead on moderate, durable choices. In the kitchen, exploring Chinese-inspired pastries like red jujube-filled spinach steamed buns or matcha soft European bread is a wonderful way to connect with cultural roots and personal creativity. Recently, I’ve experimented with similar recipes where the blend of unique flavors and wholesome ingredients offers not just nutrition but also comfort food that heals emotionally. On the social front, engaging in local cultural festivals such as the Burnaby Cultural Festival or Canada Day celebrations provides a beautiful reminder of Canada’s multicultural fabric. These events offer a chance to witness and participate in cultural exchanges, taste diverse foods, and enjoy the vibrant city life while feeling deeply connected to community traditions. Walking along the Vancouver waterfront or through Stanley Park afterward enhances the sense of peace and belonging. Ultimately, the essence lies in valuing ordinary moments—the quiet mornings with a freshly baked bun and a cup of tea, the gentle application of skincare oils, the thoughtful choice of outfit, and the joyful immersion in community events. They weave together a mosaic of a life that honors self-care, connection, and cultural appreciation. Embracing such a lifestyle invites us all to find beauty in simplicity and to recognize that everyday rituals can be profoundly nourishing both for the body and spirit.
