Made me laugh!

Mary with her parents on her wedding day photographed by Jennifer Weems via Swoon.


Love and Hugs

You probably live with it but you don't have to.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health issues in Canada according to the 2006 Community Health Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing from Statistics Canada. In this video, Tama Soble of Esther Myers' Yoga Studio discusses the natural causes of anxiety and how yoga can help establish and maintain a balance between anxiety and relaxation.

Yoga for Anxiety from Toronto Body Mind on Vimeo.

I love how Tama describes Aniexty as a feeling you don't know where or why it is. This is how it feels for me. What about you? I feel like sometimes we live with it for so long we don't even know we are anxious. It's just our natural state. But this is false. Our natural state is one of pure content love and peace. This is how we were born and what is our center. It wants to be. So we need to find ways to let it.

I know it's hard to find time to relax and take a moment for yourself and stop thinking and worrying and making lists in your mind and feeling guilty for something you didn't do and so on and so on. You can live your whole life like this or you can just decide to stop. Just stop and do what you have to do to feel better.

After all, I promise you that after meditation or a few moments (even 30 seconds) of deep breathing and eyes closed or Yoga you will be a better wife husband father mother friend cousin teacher and the list goes on.

Try it out! I dare you! ;)

Love and Hugs

Anything you tell me to do

I would wear anything Caroline Duke told me to.....if I had the money! She is the style behind 'I am a greedy girl'. She describes herself and her blog this way: greedy girl is a catalog of inspiring finds from around the world and web. the greedy girl behind the blog is a newspaper designer with a spending problem.
Hehehe. Love her!

Love and Hugs

Scenes from last weekend

Kathleen and her Tai Chi girls

HRS taking a break

Indian dancers waiting their turn

Alexis attempting coolness at brunch

Vince on Daddy Doggie duty

The look of love

Le Cabaret des Monsters (A play put on by the neighbourhood kids)

My Friend Kathleen demostrating her best Tai Chi move.

Brunch spot in the 12eme

Happy Hump Day People! We had a great time last weekend with Alexis. There was a neighbourhood festival outside our door and we spent time biking around and stopping for glasses of wine along the way. HRS was of course along for the ride.....I've got to get you a picture of her in the basket of the velib bike. She is too friggin' cute!
Can't wait for next weekend!

Love and Hugs

The thank you list

Feels so good to be thankful, so much better than being angry. Sometimes when I am having trouble meditating I just start a list of things I am thankful for and it almost instantly brings a warm buzzy feeling of calm and love. Here's a few things on my list:

Amberlie for saving my life with ‘The Power of a Praying Woman’

Shelly for coming to visit right after I lost the baby and helping me get outside again and never questioning me if we had to go back inside.

My mom for not panicking or being mad at me when I called from a pay phone in Athens and told her I need 100 bucks to buy a ticket to Cairo and live out one of my lifelong dreams.

My Dad for driving to and from the airport to pick me up and drop me off for 10 years at various times of the morning and night. (my 4 :30 am shifts my 12 :30am shift…etc)

My Brother for still loving me even after all that sand castle bullying I put him through.

Silke for introducing me to Art of Living.

Vince still loving me despite my drunken fits of rage and weirdness

Sue for coming with her car after I found out Larry cheated on me and offering to put everything in it and run to Dartmouth

Mom for saving me with ‘The Heart of The Soul’

April for taking me in after not really knoing me and feeding me grilled trout after I was dumped.

Brooke for taking me in and helping me see optomism in everything. I never forget that Brookie !

My Grandmas for writting me every month for years even if I never wrote them a single letter.

My Aunt Ann for not being the slighteset bit pissed all my belongings are in her basement for the last 3 years and beyond.

God for loving me wholly and without question and always being there to lean on when I am weak.

Pranic Healing for showing me that I actually like to do something

My baby being miscarried so that I could accomplish all this and be a better Mommy when she or he decides to come back into our lives

Malta for providing me with a place to heal

Love and Hugs

Weekend!

Happy Weekend my lovelies! What adventure or non-adventure do you have planned this weekend? Vince's BF Alex is here from Bordeaux and we plan to bike ride around Paris for 2 days straight. There's also a big garage sale being set up right outside our door for tomorrow! Can't wait to see what we find.

Have a great weekend and see you back here on Monday!

Love and Hugs

P.S. relaxing ferry ride image is from Chance.

Totally tempted!

How cool are The Temptations?!! We are putting the music list together for the wedding and they are on top of it for sure! Any other suggestions? What do you want to hear?

Love and Hugs

HRS Before and After

Our little muttrag doggie went to the salon yesterday and came out 2 hours later a gleaming princess of cutieness! We're still getting used to seeing her eyes! She looks so much older to me and a little bit badass! What do you think?

Love and Hugs

Holy Crap!

LUCK - NYC Wedding Propsal from Aria Melody DJ on Vimeo.

Tired yet?

Her Royal Strawbieness is tired of all Mommy's wedding blah blah! What about you? ;)

Love and Hugs

P.S. Thanks to my mom for sending us Sunny's favourite nightime friend...Mister Alien!

Girls got style

I don't even know what to say about this british bride in Jenny Packham emerald sequins! Just check out the rest of her wedding! You know her name IS Phillipa, so.......

This one reminds me of Rebecca from Disastrous Jane. I mean the bride's name is even Bec! How crazy is that?!

Okay my brain has been officially taken over by a strong bridal buzz! I can't think or do anything else! Somebody help me! Or don't! Just sit back and enjoy the ridiculous amount of wedding stuff I won't be able to hold back from sharing with you! I apologize in advance! But honestly, are you as excited as I am?

Love and Hugs

P.S. all these beautiful images can be found at the fabulous 100 layer cake.

I must say!

I AM SO FRIGGIN EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO SO SO SO SO EXCITED! I hope you guys are excited cause I am excited! Holy macaroni only 54 days until this moment with my groom and many more!!!!!!! I am just really getting the ants in my pants excited!

And isn't this photo beautiful? It's Kathryn and her groom Ryan from Snipet and Ink. Kathryn's blog was the first wedding blog I read when I got engaged and I have checked it every day since. Vince's tie is based on her one of her many inspirations boards. She is so sweet and inspiring and I think I will continue to read her writtings and enjoy the images well after my 10 year anniversary! She and Ryan got married last December in San Francisco and if you want to see more photos from their wedding click here. There's six wonderful pages of goodness!

Love and Hugs!

Big Deal Friday!

Today I bought these jeans at the Gap. I know for any other person that is no big deal but for me it's been a dream come true. I haven't been able to buy jeans at any mainstream size store since I was around 14 years old. I always shopped at the Gap but for t-shirts only and at the XXL size. Now I am buying jeans! Watch me go! They were the biggest size Gap France carries and I don't even give a frick! I am buying jeans! And they fit they really actually fit!

So today is an extra special friday! It's Friday Fitting Jeans day! Whoooohooooooo! 3 years of regular exercise and eating semi-right are starting to pay off!!!!

Love and Hugs

What can I do or what can I sell?

To get this gorgeous tangerine and grey confection from Jonathan Saunders for a mere 1,131 euros?

Gosh everything on I am a greedy girl makes me want to toss all the contents of my closet, pull out my credit card and shop shop shop!!!! I need to stop reading that blog!!

Love and Hugs
Tell me?! Please!

We bought my wedding ring!!!!

College sweethearts Ashley and Aron Bruhn not only live together; the twosome also maintains Hither and Tither, a blog of their lives and adventures, as a pair. It's one of my favourite blogs and recently Ashely was asked to express a few words on what it takes to a build a solid relationship for Redbook and here is some of what she wrote:

1. Treat your partner as you would any best friend.

2. Don't romanticize drama. Your partner is someone you want to see happy, not hurt. So when you do fight, fight clean. You know their soft spots: Guard them rather than exploit them, and apologize when you're wrong.

3. Talk to each other. A lot. We go on plenty of walks together, which means quality conversation while we’re not multi-tasking on the internet or catching up between commercials. It’s a time to share dreams alongside mundane details of the day, a bit of juicy gossip, or maybe a joke.

4. It never hurts to hug or kiss when one of you comes into the room. As often as possible is best.

5. Marriage shouldn’t be work. I’ve never been a fan of that phrase. Yes, you have to care for it, tend to it. But with the right person, it should feel like fun!

We bought my wedding ring yesterday and it's beautiful! I can't wait to wear it and be Vince's wife. I hope I always treat him with respect and love as I would any best friend. I think that's great advice! Thanks Ashley!

Love and Hugs

The Sun in Shining

And I suddenly got a crazy craving for a Ceaser on the Shoe Shop patio with my girls! Ahhhhhhh! It was such a strong craving I asked myself, geeze am I pregnant? and then decided nope just homesick!
Love you guys! Have a great weekend wherever you are!

Love and Hugs

Happy Friday!

Sunny and I just got back from the market and you're lucky to get this photo because it's all I do to not devour these cherries! I promise you Vince, they will be gone by the time you get home tonight! I also got this weird green thing called Asperges des bois. It's wild asparagus apparently. No idea how I am going to cook or eat it but had to have it! And finally we have lost the fight with artichokes. I threw my second bunch of them in the garbage last week! I know I know but I buy them then get intimitated and never end up cooking them. So that's it, no more buying artichokes at the market. I am sticking the the ready made kind.

What are you fun people up to this weekend? Vince's parents are coming into town on Sunday so we are thinking about taking them to the park for a picnic. Can't wait!

Love and hugs

It's Spring what's on your plate?

1. STEAMED

With Brown Butter
Put asparagus in a covered pot with an inch of water (they may stand, lean or lie flat) and turn heat to high. Put 2 to 4 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan over medium heat; stir occasionally until foam subsides and butter turns nut brown. When asparagus is done, drain, drizzle with butter and serve.

With Aïoli
Skip brown butter. Put an egg yolk in a food processor with 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 1 to 4 peeled garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1 teaspoon lemon zest. Turn it on and drizzle in 1 cup olive oil; an emulsion will form. Serve asparagus dipped in aïoli.

With Fried Eggs and Ham
Skip brown butter. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 slices good ham and cook gently on both sides; remove. Add 2 more tablespoons butter in skillet and fry four eggs until whites are firm. Serve asparagus topped with ham, eggs and any pan juices.

2. ROASTED

With or Without Bacon
Heat oven to 450. Toss asparagus with 2 tablespoons olive oil (more if you don’t use bacon) and 4 ounces cubed bacon (optional) in a roasting pan. Roast, turning once or twice, until done. Garnish: Grated Parmesan.

With Carrots, Sesame and Soy
Skip bacon. Substitute sesame oil for the olive oil and add 2 thinly sliced carrots to roasting pan. After 5 minutes of roasting, sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sesame seeds. When done, drizzle with soy sauce and toss. Garnish: Crumbled toasted nori.

With Blue Cheese and Bread Crumbs
After 5 minutes of roasting, turn asparagus and top with 1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs and 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese. Continue to roast without turning until asparagus is done. Turn on broiler and broil until top browns, about 1 minute.

3. STIR-FRIED

With Shallots and Fish Sauce
Put a large skillet over high heat for 3 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons peanut oil, then asparagus — cut into 2-inch lengths — and 10 halved shallots. Cook, stirring, until asparagus and shallots are dry and beginning to brown. Add 2 tablespoons water and 1 tablespoon fish sauce; cook until done. Garnish: Chopped peanuts.

With Scallops and Black Beans
Soak 1 tablespoon fermented black beans in sake or white wine to cover while pan heats. Substitute 1 tablespoon minced garlic for the shallots and soy sauce for the fish sauce. Add black beans and 1/2 pound sliced or cubed scallops to pan along with soy sauce and water. Garnish: Chopped chives.

With Chicken and Shiitakes
Skip shallots. When pan is hot, add oil, then 1/2 pound cubed chicken thighs. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned; remove. Add asparagus and 1/2 pound trimmed and sliced shiitake mushrooms; proceed, substituting oyster sauce for the fish sauce. Add chicken back to pan along with oyster sauce and water. Garnish: More oyster sauce.

4. GRILLED

With Lemon Marinade
Heat a grill with rack 4 to 6 inches from flame. Combine 2 tablespoons olive oil and zest and juice of 1 lemon; brush asparagus with this. Grill asparagus crosswise, turning once or twice and brushing with sauce until done. Garnish: Lemon wedges.

With Grape Tomatoes and Pesto
Skip lemon; grill 1 pint grape tomatoes, skewered, with the asparagus, brushing all with olive oil. Purée 1 cup basil leaves, 1 small garlic clove, 1 tablespoon pine nuts, 1/4 cup (or more) olive oil and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan in a mini food processor. Serve asparagus and tomatoes with pesto.

With Red-Pepper Glaze
Substitute lime zest and juice for the lemon; add 1 tablespoon honey and 1/2 teaspoon (or more) red-pepper flakes. Grill 1 yellow bell pepper — cut into thick strips — and 4 trimmed scallions along with the asparagus, brushing all with the glaze. Garnish: Lime wedges.

Photograph: Yunhee Kim for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Maggie Ruggiero. Prop Stylist: Deborah Williams.

By MARK BITTMAN

Published: April 27, 2011

Thanks so much to Mark from the New York Times for this article and all the new ways to enjoy asparagus. I love it and get so excited when I see it at the market in season looking how it should all crisp and fresh. Reminds me of growing up in Ontario and my grandma bringing over pounds and pounds of the stuff. We ate asparagus all summer long....well that and corn on the cob! ;)
But it's true I often cook it the same way every time, steamed then squeezed with lemon juice and toasted seasme seeds. I am definitely ready for an asparagus recipe intervention! I think I'm gonna try the Blue Cheese and Breadcrumbs one first!

Love and Hugs

Nothing like it

There is nothing like brother sister love is there? These are my two favourite pictures of Vince and his oldest sister Nathalie lovin' and playin'. Aren't they to die for?

Makes me miss my little brother BAD!

Love and Hugs