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

Freeforall Friday- 12 by 2012 and an Award!!!

It's Listmania over here at The Sentimental Suitcase! Are you ready for this jelly? Did I just say that? YES!


Have you guys heard of this? Danni from Oh, Hello Friend has proposed a goal project entitled 12 by 2012.  I've seen it on a few blogs here and here and I am thinking I could use with a few challenges and ambitions to end this year off right.

So let's get started shall we?

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!!!)

In other news the hilarious girl after my own heart Samantha Vérant from The Frog and a Princess gave me the Stylish Blogger award! Can you believe that? Ahhhhh! I am over the moon crazy about this! That kind of thing has never happened to me and I feel so humbled and cool. Okay enough Ego, calm down little f*#%'er!

 Source- My Girl Sam

Anyways, in order to collect the award you must reveal 7 truths about yourself and pass it on. Fun!

 1. I believe in God. There I said it. Now you all know. I am spiritual. I think there are other forces at work that we can not see and I am only living half my life if I can't appreciate and explore that.

2. We are gonna start trying to make a baby in Jan, 2012! Ahhh!

3. Vince and I are sleeping in bunk beds right now (hence the not pregnant part) But don't worry still very much in love just have a tinytiny apartment until we move mid Nov.

4. I prefer to shower in the afternoon than the morning, is that weird? I just hate getting all cold and wet in the morning. I take a while to wake up.

5. I'm a vegetarian and a foodie/wine snob. Yes we do exist.

6. I'm actually excited to be moving to Toronto and living there. Yes we do exsit. ;)

7. hehehe I love making lists and my brother calls me Lieutenant Precise after my father Captain Precise who also has a small worry problem (BIG) and likes to make lists and check and check and re-check!

So now for my choice for the next Stlyish Blogger award! And the award goes to the most sophisticated colourful amazing cool woman I know Noelani from Mon Petit Chou Chou. Who am I kidding she's probably recieved this award more times than I can count she's just that stylish!

Source- My Girl Lani

Congratulations Noelani!

Now tell me you guys do you have a 12 by 2012 list? I'd love to know what's on it! Do you want to share with me? I am so nosy! Indulge me!

Love and Hugs

Six Everyday

1. Vince and Sunny. Their kisses,cuddles,smiles and tail wags are pure joy to me. And honestly who wants to pass one day without pure joy? duh!
2. My Mac, i.e The Internet! I am officialy addicted. Being an expat with no physical friends near by makes me an internet fiend. I am always checking my email, mom's facebook, ryan's facebook, the blog, Us weekly.com and the list goes on just so I can feel connected to you guys and not so alone.
3. Morning coffee. It's a love hate thing. I think maybe I should quit but why?! I love it so much and I only have one cup. I am honestly passed out on the couch at 9am if I didn't have one.

4. Mascara. I look like a dead junkie if I don't wear it. I am currently using Colossal Volume by Maybelline but am on a life long search for the best. Any suggestions?

5. Exercise. Same as coffee I love and hate exercise. I love feeling strong and sweaty and that I accomplised something purely physical and good for this body that carries my soul. But then sometimes I just want to lay around eating chocolate in my jamjams you know?
6. I can't go a day without praying. I talk to God all the time. Often I am thanking and begging and loving but most often it's even just a warm feeling. If I haven't prayed for a while and I am living too much in my head I become anxious and weird and emotional and weirder. Praying keeps me sane period.



This is inspired by Taylor's list at Sterlingstyle.net. She's a cool chick who loves fashion and exercise (hello crossfit!!! The girl deadlifts!)

So I want to know about you guys? What are some of the things you can't live without every single day!

Love and Hugs

Number One reason I can't wait to get to Canada!

To spend time with you people silly! My Family and Friends I love you so much and can't wait to waste away the hours listening to you talk.

I love you!

Love and Hugs

Why Canada rocks and I can't wait to get there!

Hugs and Kisses and the free for all that is Canadain Friendlyness. I am in a barren land of polite smiles and nods overhere. I can't wait to get back to my people who all live with their hearts on their sleeves. I am going to smother all you with my hugs!

Personal space. Space to move on the subway and in the street. I'm gonna take deep breaths and expand my arms all the way out without hitting a single person in the head. And roam around my families and friends houses with ease unlike my usual persona, "Samantha the humongous bull in a china shop."

Here's to Shopper's drugmart and the Atlantic Superstore with the NSLC attached to it. I miss shopping in stores where I can get everything I need. Such a luxury!

Acutally wearing my comfy pants outside and not feeling bad about it. Hell I might even pair those comfy pants with the above sweater and feel pride and joy when Canadains pull me over on the street to compliment my sweatshirt. HA!

A few more:

Chit chating with friendly strangers on the street

Brown and white sugar and that's it. I have had a hell of a time baking over here. I am clearly missing something. I thought Brown sugar was in everything?!

Love and Hugs and see you all soon!

Pic credits-

1-coe.int

2-rlv.zcache

3-wikimedia.org

Things I will miss about Paris- Part 2

1. My handsome, kind, wonderfuly perfect French boyfriend!

2. The outrageous architecture everywhere. It's like a dream and you have to squint and make sure you are really seeing what you think you are seeing. And then you realize Yes! I live in Paris! It's not a dream!

3. The wafting smell of butter on every street corner coming from the boulangerie. I am not lying. They must be flowing on a river of butter in the back it's that intense. I love it!

4. The gorgeous elegant stylish Parisian women that inspire my fashion everyday. I have never walked out of the house wearing comfy pants.


5. Watching the Eiffel tower from my street as I walk home everyday. Nuff said.

And a few more....

The fact that my French was improving leaps and bounds…I was actually able to get into the conversation with Vince’s family

Watching skinny french women walk home with a baguette in their left hand eating off the top of it with their right hand. Stumps me everytime.

On the same topic, here there is a lack of diets and diet advertisements and crazy plastic surgery looking women brainwashing me into believing I need to look the same way. Also there are hardly any gyms and the freak attack health nuts that go along with them. I never overhear people talking about cutting banana's out of their diet because they have too many calories. Or people taking about getting up at 4 in the morning to take a spin class and run 25miles before work. Parisians aren't afraid of food and fat like we are and it's sooooo refreshing.

Perfume! Everywhere! You can wear it in public over here, gasp I know. Come over and wear your beautiful expensive scent where ever the hell you want.

Next up, the list of things that gets me so excited to come home to Canada!
Love and Hugs

Photocredit: pic 2-eurocheapo.com

pic 3- cache.graphiclib.viator

pic 4-stylebyme.com

Things I will miss about Paris- Part 1

This post is dedicated to my Mom who has been reminding me through my bluey haze these last few days to keep my eyes wide open and enjoy everything they see.....
1. Lots of cheap wine and Champagne. I mean we got this beautiful bottle of St-Emilion 2005 Grand Cru for 10.00 euros. Can you imagine? Back home it would be like 65.00 bucks easy.

2.Exhilarating bike rides around the Arc De Triomphe. I know it's big and beautiful but riding your bike so close to it really makes you appreciate it that much more.

3. Bike riding with my Velib card. I love that I bike or walk everywhere. It's a cheap and easy and I always feel healthy after a brisk ride outside.

4. Cobblestone streets and alleyways. I don't know what it is but everytime I see one my heart swoons. Does anyone have the same reaction? I also love the way car tires sound on cobblestones as they pass me on my bike. Sounds so....Parisian!

5. My daily morning pain au chocolate and espresso. The pain is so flaky and warm and buttery and the coffee so strong and cheap. I love the smell of an espresso quicky brewed at the counter of a bar. I know I am supposed to love the muffins or donuts and coffee from Tim's but I'm sorry to say I think you've got a convert on your hands Canada!

The second pic is borrowed from: motorcapers.com

The fourth pic is borrowed from: terragaleria.com

List of things I do when my boyfriend isn't around

Good morning every body! So Vince is still in Malta...his flight was delayed last night so the meetings he was supposed to do yesterday were posponed till today. He won't be home till 10pm tonight. Bummer cause I am dying to find out how everything worked out. He should be calling me with an update in half an hour. I will let you know as soon as I can.

In the meantime.....I made a little list of delightful things a girl like me does when her lovely boyfriend is on a buisness trip.

1. Take off bra and put on comfy grandpa-like jamjams right apon entering the door.

2. Listen to the song "Girl" by Destiny's Child on repeat for a ridiculous amount of time.

3. Eat all and I mean all of the delicious pate du campagne without sharing! Mauhahahhaha!

4. Finally, lay out on the couch and watch a extremly girly fashion movie such as "The September Issue" without having to pause it and explain fashion terms and quirks.

What do you think? Sounds like a fun filled girls night alone or what? What do you ladies do when your men are away? Come on be honest!

Of course I miss my lovely boyfriend desperately especially our morning cuddle. I can't wait till he gets back tonight....but until then more indulging in my girly side!

Love and Hugs