Wear- Daily style inspiration

Hi Kids! I'm still a little busy with my Mom and Dad, moving back home and all that so I wanted to let some other cool women inspire you this week on Wear Wednesday. These are my top 3 favourite style bloggers out there:

Noelani from Mon petit chou chou

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Taylor from Sterling Style and the The Glitter Guide

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and Anna Jane from See Jane

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Aren't they smokin'? Do you have what it takes to post pictures of your outfits everyday? Do you have a secret ambition to be a stylist? Or maybe you just plain love fashion like me? Anyways have a peek at the sites, there is tons of lovely giddy fashion awesomeness and inspiration running through the pages.

Love and Hugs

Taste- What we ate: a week in food photos

Last week was seriously busy with Mom and Dad in town from Toronto and moving back to Canada and all making this one week late! Sorry guys but I hope you aren't mad and still find a little inspiration here?

Thursday was lentil and sweet potato stew. So comforting and yummy. Lentils like beans get a bad rap but they are so good, come on give them a chance!

Friday lunch was a salad with those hot italian pickled peppers I love and can only find at the Friday market. I also put some avocado, red onion and sundreied tomatoes on there. Fastest and easiest lunch ever!

Saturday was Mushroom Bourguignon and gougère from the November edition of Vegetarian Living UK. Needless to say this was pretty amazing!

Sunday was roasted cauliflower soup with hazelnuts and bread loosley based on my hands down favourite food blogger Sara's recipe from Sprouted Kitchen.

Monday was more lentils! And a veggie bake inspired by Samantha at The Frog and a Princess. I used a beet, slices of pumpkin, green tomato and polenta.

And Tuesday sadly was my first soup fail. I don't know what I did wrong but this one just didn't turn out that well. :( It was supposed to be fennel, potato and celeri. But it kinda was blah and green? Oh well back to the drawing board!

So there you have it! Another week another plate full of mostly goodness! So please tell what did you have last week? Anything worth sharing? You know I love a good recipe!


Love and Hugs

Be- an incense expert

I use incense when I meditate. I love it and have been using it for years. It's wonderful for relaxing your mind and helping you focus on your awareness. Have you ever been in the store staring at the many scents and wondered what the difference was between them?

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Well apparently certain incense when used like aromatheraphy can alter your mood and in turn help heal your mind. Every scent has a corresponding association such as:

Lavendar - meditation/physic awareness
Eucalyptus, Frankincense- communitcation, intuition
Chamomile- calm, soothing
Peppermint, Rosemary- emotional healing, good luck
Musk, Patchouli- passion, sexuality
Tuberose- chakra balancing, highest consciousness
Lemon- awareness, power
Sandalwood, Rose- enlightenment, spirituality
Ylang Ylang- inspiration, self love
Ceaderwood, Pine- courage, protection
Jasmine- love, intuition
Clove- energy, grounding

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Or you could just burn it cause it smells good! My Mom always tells me a funny story of burning some in her bedroom in the 60's and my Grandma freaking out thinking it was pot! Oh the 60's!!!

Love and Hugs 

Freeforall- Guess who's here?

It's our favourite funny travel partners, Mom and Dad! YAYAY! They arrived Thursday morning around 9:45am by airplane not vespa. (I know you were wondering)

So this weekend we will be getting into all kinds of trouble and fun and probably lost like we always do in Paris but I wouldn't have it any other way!

Be back next week with lots of pictures. Have a great weekend you guys!

Love and Hugs

Do- Where to take your dog to the park in Paris

Here's in France dogs go everywhere, the hair salon, fancy restaurants, jean shopping with you but they do not go to the park! I'm not sure why but if I had to guess I'd say it's because Parisians do not pick up their doggies poop and they can't be trusted to go in the beautiful parks and lovely grassy spots you find throughout the capital. So unfortunately most of them are off limits for your dog.

Thankfully there is one off leash park in Paris and it's at the Louvre, naturally. My new friend Jennifer had a party there last Sunday for her girl Moxie's 4th birthday and we got invited!

Source: Thanks for the pic Jennifer!

The old Monkamonk was pretty excited to be there. When she saw Moxie from across the park she ran over as fast as her little fluffy legs would take her.

Here's a great shot of the off the park with the Louvre in the background so you can see what I mean. Thanks Mairin!

 

Sunny obviously got down to the serious business of playing. She is a social little monkey chatting with DSK the American Cocker spaniel and a small baby monkey.

She fell in love with a three month old Boston Terrier named Georges. Obsessed with younger men just like her Momma! ;)

While the dogs played we enjoyed vin chaud, pasta salad, muffins, apple crisp and more wine!

The weather was perfect and we stayed all afternoon soaking up the view and great company!

Soon it was time to go and give the birthday girl one last kiss before we were on our way home with a very happy and exhausted doggie.

What a success! We are so going back there Tuesday afternoon so Sunny can run and get tired before the big 8 hour flight home and to have one last look at one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in Paris! 

What's it like for dogs in your town? Can they roam where they please or are they confined to your homes? Apparently Toronto has a off leash dog park every few meters like the metro in Paris so we are pretty excited about that! Right Sunny?


Love and Hugs

Wear- What's in your makeup bag?

I'm a beauty minimalist. I love a few really good products. However on the other side I love shopping at Sephora. I get all giddy over the outrageous eye shadow colours and those big compacts they have out right now for Christmas with 56 lip glosses and 97 eye shadows and 34 blushes, you know the ones. Not like I would ever buy one but I sure do like looking at them!

Got me thinking about the products I do use and wondering if you're like me?

My favourites:

1. Viva Glam Cyndi Lauper lipstick.

2. Bobbi Brown shimmer brick for my eyeshadow

3. Givenchy Matissime powder foundation

4. Clinique Acne solutions three step

5. Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream

6. Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage concealer

7. Benefit Bad gal brown mascara

Or maybe you're more like my Aunt Ann? She's all about hair, everytime I'm at her house I use all her awesome shampoos, conditioners, styling products and sprays! 

 Aunt Ann's top seven:

1. Mary Kay lipstick in Apple Berry

2. Joico pink mist hairspray

3. Biosilk Thermal seal

4. Chanel Coco Mademoiselle perfume

5. Olay total effects face moisturizer

6. Maybeline great lash mascara

7. Smashbox Healthy FX foundation

My Mom is serious about her skin routine. I always hear people commenting on how clear and soft her skin looks. I say it's genectics but she swears by Dr. Renaud products. A little pricey but worth every last penny according to Mom.

Mom's Beauty picks:

1. Cover Girl professional mascara

2. Sephora shimmer gloss in Cranberry

3. "Wedge" shadow by Mac for brows and crease

4. Daily cleanser and moisturizer by Dr. Renaud

5. "Sparkling Cider" blush by Mary Kay

6. Mineral foundation by Bare Minerals

7. Favourite tool is Mac angle brow brush # 208.

Now it's your turn, what can you not live with out? Have you figured out how to use that crazy fushia eye shadow by Urban Decay yet? Or are you a dove soap kinda girl?

Love and Hugs

Taste- Dorie Greenspan's pumpkin packed with cheese and bread

Okay I know you guys have been waiting for this for a long time right? I have! All I want to do is make it again! I first heard about Dorie on twitter and then there was a feed on what to make with pumpkins which I had to read of course and Voilà! my pumpkin stuffed with cheese and bread was born!



Can you hear my mouth literally watering at the end when I'm slicing that puppy open? Kinda gross I know. Sorry about that.

Now tell me what did you do with your pumpkins this year? Just carve em? Or venture to the unknown and cook with them?


Love and Hugs

Be- Panic Free

My parents will be here in 72 hours! I'm so excited!!! I can't wait to hug them and and just been in their lovely presence.

I'm also a little anixous because it means I'm leaving and will be getting on a plane for 8+ hours.

I had my first panic attack at 19 years old and haven't looked back. It's changed and can take on different faces such as fear of leaving the house to fear of speaking in front of strangers to fear of fear. Recently though the toughest has been a fear of flying.

I'm scared I will have a panic attack on the airplane and get up and scream and try to open the door (I'm been flying since I was little I know how to open that door!)  and freak everyone out and the pilot will have to make an emergency landing. Will I get arrested? Probably! And what's that gonna cost anyways like 10,00000 dollars? Will I punch the Flight Attendant if she doesn't let me out? AHHHHHHHHHHH! I start to feel so out of control and claustrophobic!
So I have been taking charge and doing what I can to help myself. This means meditation, EFT, pranic healing and scouring Youtube for helpful clips like this one:



and this one too:



The idea of confronting my panic and aniexty and asking for more has never occured to me and scares the shit out of me at the same time. I am usually just working at making it go away RIGHT NOW! But I can really see what's behind it and want to give a try.

Do you have panic attacks or aniexty or excessive worry? What do you do to help yourself? Please feel free to talk to me about it if you want, I am a completly judgement free safe sounding board.

Love and Hugs

Freeforall Friday- Twelve by 2012 update

As you guys already know I'm participating in the twelve by 2012 project. It's a way to help eachother knock 12 things off our To-do lists that have been nagging and dragging for the whole year.
Here's my 4 week update: 

The original list:

1. lose 15 pounds

2. Secure a volunteer position at a wellness/healing/yoga/meditation type center in Toronto

3. Get a job

4. DIY all our Christmas gifts

5. Continue meditating every single day

6. Send Christmas cards with heartfelt well wishes in each

7. Send out our Wedding thank you notes

8. Finish my book

9. Join OA in Toronto

10. Bake every Sunday until I leave for Toronto with my honey

11. Provide photographic evidence of all the things I strike off this list

12. Go on that weird outdoor climbing tree thing in the woods near our house (Scary!!!)

And the updated list as of today:

1. weight lost: 2.7 pounds

2. haven't got to Toronto yet.

3. haven't got to Toronto yet but have applied for a job at the ROM already. (thanks Bro)

4. will do with Mom and Britt when we get to Toronto.

5. So far so good. Not every day but most days. I'd say five days out of the seven.

6. will send them out the first week of Dec.

7. all done! yay!

8. all done! yay!

9. haven't got to Toronto yet.

10. almost but not really. I think we baked 2 out of the 4 weeks.

11. Yup photos below.

12. Ummmm we researched it and found out we can't bring Sunny so it's out. I need to think of a new thing.

11. The photographic evidence:

7. Sending out wedding thank you notes:

8. The book: 

10. The baking:

Here are a few more bloggers who are doing the same thing incase you're snoopy (I am!) and want to see other peoples lists.

Oui, Petite
Wit & Whistle
A Pair of Pears
The Sweet Life
Wanderlustings

So there you have it kids. Kinda sorta killing it but not really. How are you doing on your own 12 by 2012 challenge? Or are you waiting for New Years day to make your goals and resolutions? You know I want to know.

Love and Hugs

Do- Make yourself a pumpkin mask

So you got a lot of pumpkin around the house and you're kinda broke? Sound familar? Well you could make a pumpkin face mask if you like? Let's let Erica and Allison show us how.

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What's makes pumpkins awesome is that they are packed with vitamin A! Which works like a charm in smothing out your skin and kicking those wrinkles to the curb, stupid wrinkles.

You will need:

2 tsp pureed pumpkin

1/2 tsp honey

1/4 tsp heavy whipping cream

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Then mix it all up and apply with a fancy fan brush if you have one to make it even more spa-like. You could even heat it a little in the microwave so it's not too cold going on your skin.

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After 10 mins rinse and admire your gorgeous glowing pumpkin skin!


Just another reason to love Autumn! Are you going to try this? Or does the thought of pumpkin on your face freak you out? Well then maybe you could make this Pumpkin-Smores cake from Desserts for Breakfast instead? oooooor do the mask while eating the cake?!

I know I'm bad. ;)


Love and Hugs

Wear- A Very Swell Mad Men outfit

Last Wednesday was the long awaited Very Swell event at the Alcazar mezzanine bar in the 6e. I'd been wanting to attend since reading about the first one on HIP Paris. Alisa and Louise organise the soirée concentrating on a private cocktail/food/art type vibe with a Mad Men lean. How fun does that sound, right?!

In order to go you have to dress the part. Since the pocketbook isn't overflowing this month I decided to make due with what I had and buy a few cheap pieces to complete the look. Noelani also gave me great advice by suggesting I play with makeup such as matte lipstick and winged eyeliner, so I went for it!

I bought these 2.99 euro earings at Camieu and wore a vintage broach belonging to my great grandmother that I love.

The blouse is a year old from a shop in Malta and the skirt was 12.99 at Camieu as well. I couldn't swing for a pair of 50's style pumps so I went with my good old go to black Nine West pair, topping it off with a fake cheetah clutch from Aldo.

We showed up just in time to order a fancy Vodka Gimlet and talk to the other guests. Paul the Pastry boy was there along with Alisa (one of the event creators) who also runs Sweetpea bakery. We had a swinging time and can't wait for the next one!

 

Do you guys go to dress up parties? Or attend private dining clubs? Do they have them where you live? I was thinking of making a supper club in my own home when we settle into Toronto. Would anyone come?

Love and Hugs

Taste- What we ate: a week in food photos

Did I tell you guys that I'm on a diet?! I have been trying to lose weight for a little over three years now. So far so good, I've lost 44 pounds and have roughly another 35 -30 to go. Slow and steady with lots of healthy soups and OA support from my Mom. And that's my plan. I also might have forgot to add I'm a vegetarian too? So if you not discouraged and feeling curious I'd like to show you a glimpse of what's on my plate through an average week:

Thursday was veggie chili. I heart beans in a major way. I don't know why I ever thought they were gross? They are little pockets of miracles as far as I'm concerned.

Friday was fresh pasta with roasted and sundried tomatoes, crunchy basil and that unbelievable burrata mozza from our favourite cheese people down the street.

Saturday morning Vince has been making pancakes and coffee in bed for me. Love him!

 

Sunday was my first attempt at a pumpkin stuffed with cheese and bread. HELLO!! I made a video about it, that's how great it is. Stay tuned.

 

Monday was back to soup business with miso, tofu, soba noodles, ginger, cilantro and wakame!

Tuesday was soup continued with roasted cauliflower and swiss chard! So filling and yummy!

And there you have it folks. Add a little meditation and exercise in there and you're all set! 

What about you? What's been on your table this week? Any recipes to share?

Love and Hugs

Be- Go Nuts!

How are you celebrating today? What did you do (however small) that makes you happy? What brings a smile to your face?

It's a sticky question isn't it? I think most of us have been taught not to be too show off-y. Don't bring attention to your self or even, don't look too happy.

Well I want you to know that here in this space please feel free to go nuts! Let it all out, if you're alone shout out how awesome you are! If you are in public go ahead smile to your self and say, "way to go self, you are super amazing" and by the way "Holy crap that presentation you made was kick ass", or "geeze how great was it when you went for a walk after work yesterday" or "hell ya I'm so cool for starting my own business" or "awesome job getting to work on time this morning!" or in my case, "Sam you are so amazing for only having one portion of apple cake last night and being happy and full."

Source & Source

Because honestly our negativity is the only thing holding us back from what our heart knows we deserve.

So go ahead and be crazy, congratulate yourself and maybe even do a little celebration dance. Seriously what are we doing here anyways? Aren't we supposed to be having a little fun?

Love and Hugs

Free for all- Thank you

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The Ode of Remembrance

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them. 

 

Lest we forget. 

This a short video we took of The Last Post ceremony at Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium last September. It's a very powerful ceremony held every night to honour the commonwealth soldiers who died and fought to free Belguim. 

The Menin Gate Memorial on the east side of Ypres was thought to be the most appropriate location for the ceremony. Originally this was the location of the old city gate leading to the Ypres Salient battlefields and The Menin Road, through which so many British and Commonwealth troops had passed on their way to the Allied front line.

From 11^th November, 1929 the Last Post has been sounded at the Menin Gate Memorial every night and in all weathers. The only exception to this was during the four years of the German occupation of Ypres from 20^th May 1940 to 6^th September 1944.

I hope it helps you remember.


Love and Hugs

Do- Champagne tasting

Thank goodness for twitter is all I can say. I met a lovely girl on there named Emma. She is a major wine buff and turned us on to the many tastings at Caves Auge. The oldest wine shop in Paris and her old workplace.
A couple of Saturdays ago Auge had a handful of small vintners come in and offer free tastings of their bubbly with discounted prices on the bottles. We were late, arriving around 3pm and this is what we saw: 

A packed sidewalk with desperate tasters huddled around the barrels.

We mustered our way in and were rewarded with many a glass of lovely champagne.

Sunny didn't really see what all the fuss was about.

The vintners were pouring tirelessly from 11am-5pm educating us on their specific process and taste points.

Most people were taking notes and really getting into it. We tried most of the wines as well and left with 3 great bottles which have since been consumed!

It was a great Saturday and we definitely reccomend logging on to the Auge Website and viewing the other tastings coming up. They have one almost every three weeks and if you want to benefit fully don't do what we did, Get There Early!


Do you drink champagne? Cava? Prosecco? Or are you a straight up red wine type person? I'd like to know so next time I come over to your house I bring the right bottle! ;)



Love and Hugs