The Man is here.

Check him out! Seriously breaking my heart!

My nephew William Maxwell Dodge-Vernon was born June 07th at 10:31 am and weighed 8 pounds 0 ounces. He's a tall babe at 21 inches long and it's an understatment to say we are all head over heels in love.

Britt and Will didn't mess around and were in labour overnight at home and then 1 hour at the hospital before he arrived!

Holy crap I know. Ok go ahead gush away, we're used to it! 

Love and Hugs

Be- 22 Weeks pregnant

So here it is the Bump I am always convinced is not growing! ;) A few things that have been happening in the last 2 weeks:

1:She moved! Finally! Made me wait till 2 days ago that little bugger but yes I am sure she is alive and kicking in there.
2:Aparently she only moves for chocolate and beer (had 3 non-alcohlic beers and she kicked up a storm). Not a good sign.
3:We have officially entered the extremly baffling world of new baby stuff consumers. The choice and price of gadgets out there you just need to have for a newborn is outrageous, and overwhellming.
4: Names are being narrowed down. A few we like are Gemma, Lucia (Lucie), Sawyer, Millicent, Andie, Aura and Axelle, I wonder which one we're gonna pick!

That's it folks. I am off to work and thankful that it will be over at the end of this month so I can get back to concentrating on my favourite people, YOU!

Love and Hugs

Be- 20 weeks pregnant

Hi my dearest friends! Well it's still happening. I'm still pregnant and can't believe every second of it.
I honestly can't believe this is happening to ME! Will I really be a Mom? Will I really have a baby? Could I be so lucky?
I know so many women and Moms who have and are going through hardships with concieving and motherhood. This is no picnic people and if I can get to 40 weeks with a healthy baby well I'll tell you there will be some friggin party in Guelph that's for damn sure and you're all invited!

I always secretly thought that was so annoying when you would ask an expectant mother if she was having a boy or a girl and she said, "We're just hoping for a healthy baby!" Urgh!

But now I get it. I too just want an alive healthy child. Who cares either way right?

Love and Hugs

Taste- A Michelin starred restaurant

Have you ever been? I'm usually drawn to the cosy 10 table home style bistro to be honest. But when our 5 year anniversary rolled around in late September we decided to look for something a little more special and came up with the 1 star restaurant in Barbizon called Les Pléiades. 

We made the reservation 2 weeks in advance which is a little unheard of in France but we wanted to be sure. (Also asking the chef to throw together a completly vegetarian menu for me)

The restaurant is located in a gorgeous art hotel of the same name in Barbizon which is about a ten minute drive from our place in Fontainebleau.

Everything was spectacular. The service, the menus, the table setting and the music. But especially the wine. It was Château Haut Maurac Bellecour, Cru Bourgeois 1996. Both Vince and I can say we have never tasted a better bottle which is no small feat!

The cuisine is molecular. So everything we tasted was made to challenge the eye and tongue. The picture below is one of the many amuse-bouches that looked like a small shot class of beer and an egg yolk. Not so, it was ginger vodka cider and the 'yolk' was pineapple that was meant to be burst on your tongue at the same time as comsumming the cider.

Vince ordered his favourite, the Pigeon which was delivered to our table in a courier envelope of it's own!

The cheeses were hand selected from a fromagerie in Fontainebleau and you know we tried every one of those babies!

We had no room whatsoever for dessert but when the coffee came it was accompanied by home made marshmallows, pate de fruits, caramels and a few extra little sweet amause bouches to send us on our way.

We stayed for 3 hours. It was heavenly and unforgettable. I can't say we will be dining like this every day but if the occasion arrises well, why not!

Are you curtious about the Michelin star system? Have you ever been to a restaurant like this? Do you know if there are any in Toronto or Canada for that matter?



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

Wear Wednesday- What we wore: Bride and Groom

Hey guys wanna see the details of what we wore to our wedding? I love looking at other brides pictures and finding out how they put the whole thing together so I thought you might like to, too?


The hairclip- Mom assembled it in my hair literally as I was getting ready. She picked up the flower at a shop on Queen West in Toronto along with the feathers and an antique broch. She's a creative powerhouse I tell ya.

The shoes- were comfy green suede sling backs from CosmoParis.

The jewels- My earrings are diamond and pearl spirals from Birks that my parents gifted me for my 30th birthday and the bracelet I won on a wedding giveaway. My Aunt Jane re-worked it, taking off the ribbon and adding clasps to make it into a bracelet instead. My family is full of creative ladies!

The viel- from Pronovias and is the most luxurious and beautiful thing I have ever owned. It's made of french silk tulle with intricate lace around the edges. I'm trying to think of a way to use it in the future. Maybe a canopy over a baby bassinet?

It was catherdral length and totally not what I imagined I'd pick. Maybe not the best choice for an outdoor wedding but what can you do? The heart wants what the heart wants and man did mine ever want that veil! Thank you so much Mom and Dad.

Vince's suit- a three piece very well made suit from De Fursac.
Vince's tie- a silk pink/grey/taupe checkered tie from Paul Smith.
His accessory- a hankerchief from Etsy I had embroidered
His shoes- beautiful brown leather shoes from Hardridge that he's owned for years!

The dress- is Medina from Pronovias Spring Summer 2010. We bought it at Balletts in London Ontario the very same place my Aunt Jane bought her dress ten years earlier.

I fell in love with it right away and cliché as it may be I cried when I tried it on. I loved the material and especially the skirt with the pick up in the front. I felt sexy and beautiful and skinny! I also felt like my boobs were somewhat under control. I had started to succomb to the idea of having to pull up my top all night while wearing a strapless dress. I thought all the ones with straps would be matronly. Not so!

Vince's shirt- lucked out and found a great deal at Izac.
We escaped at the end of the night and forgot my veil, Vince's jacket and vest. Thankfully the best man had us covered and brought them back with the bus load of happy boozey guests a little later.

Vince shirt was soaked through. He brought another one with him in case this happened and would have to change. He never did, I didn't ask him too. We were just having too much FUN dammit!

I would lovelovelove to know what dress or suit you wore or a want to wear? Did you accessorize with already owned pieces or go all out and buy new ones? What was/will be your favourite part of your look? Come on girls and boys, spill the beans!

Love and Hugs

Be Monday- Do you want to be yourself? Do you want to be true?

Life is hard. We are being dragged in every direction before we even get out of bed. Not very often do we get these sweet moments where we feel really true to our selves. You know the feeling, that euphoric light love feeling where you are just completely.....happy.



Unfortunately as we get older we often lose sight of that person and that feeling. The good news is it's never gone and if you want you can have it back as often as possible. It's very important to tap into this as often as possible. This is the secret of truly happy and successful people. You will be a better wife, husband, mother, friend, daughter, niece, neighbour, coworker..etc.
So how do you do it?

There are a number of ways and it will vary from person to person. I find meditation helps, Florence Welsch suggests you dance the devil off your back, and visulization can also help. But take it slow, there is no room for being hard on yourself here. That's conteractive.

So if you want to try you can simply close your eyes for a moment and breathe. Consciously follow your breath down to your belly and back up and think of one of the happiest moments in your life. The birth of your daughter? That moment at the cottage last summer when you woke up early and went out to the dock and really felt the morning, the evening your husband proposed, that time you stepped off the plane in a foreign country and felt this is it.

This seriously only takes maybe 30 seconds. You can pause and do this in the lineup at the grocery store. Or in the washroom after you wash your hands before you come back out or even right before you fall asleep.

Soon you will see this changes such as easier smiles, a happier heart, becoming more understanding and more yourself! (and don't get too excited now but you will also start to crave more!) Pausing will become wonderfully addictive. You will take the time to love yourself and then the skys the limit to your happiness!

So come on people "stop dragging that horse around!"

Please please please let me know if you tried this or what you think of it! I am dying to know!


Love and Hugs


P.S Thanks so much to Becky at Disasterous Jane for sharing this music video! It is so inspiring and beautiful!

Be Monday- Let go of it

 Source, thanks Mammbblog! 

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.

There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. 

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

- Marianne Williamson, is a best-selling author and speaker.

 Source Thanks Catherine!

So go ahead! Why not take a chance and act from the perfect loving place in your heart. What happens will always be right. And then you might finally let go of your fear and unhappiness and come into the world you always knew was there.

Love and Hugs

Wear Wednesday- Date Night

Last Saturday we went out to Les Pleiades to celebrate the night we met 5 years ago. It was the poshiest place we've ever eaten so we dressed the part.

I wore a black crepe Kookai dress, my wedding shoes from Cosmoparis, clutch from Aldo, orange tassel earrings from Satellite Paris a bracelet gifted from Shelly, Red #10 lipstick from Bobbi Brown and french cancan nail colour by Mavala.

Finishing the last glass of champagne I put on my new red trench from cheapy cheap brand Camaieu. I'm above average French girl size and find it hard to find chic pieces to fit my shape but with a little digging I always find a few great things.

 But more importantly what did the husband wear you say?

It was all about the dapper tailormade dark grey suit and shirt he got in India.

The details were cufflinks from Debenhams and shoes from Texto.

We hope you enjoyed our first what we wore Wear Wednesday post and please let us know what you thought, we LOVE hearing from you! ;)

Love and Hugs

Be Monday- Dream

This title is close to my heart. I love to Dream. But until a few years ago I thought dreaming was only for fairy tales and night time. I had absolutely no idea of their power.

Source

Nowadays I feel less and less constricted about my dreams and embarrassed by them, the opposite is actually happening: I'm becoming excited by them.

Here are a few:

Fall in love and marry the pefect partner for me: Done!
Have children and a family with that person
Enjoy a long healthy relationship
Live near my family
Start my own buisness
Become an active part of the healing community in my town
Become a good healer
Be a good person
Be free of gulit, addiction and negative thoughts......resulting in
Being happy and at peace

I think if I dream of these things enough they will become more and more a part of me and reality. I will search these things out consciously and subconsciously. Heck I've already got the first one crossed off so that's gotta be good right? ;)
 

 

Source

Kute Blackson says: "Your responsibility is not to make your dreams happen but simply to say “Yes”."

He also gives you a great list on how to achieve your dreams and what to do when you are discouraged. Kute's a crazy ass super spirit warrior. Check out his site if you dare.


I am dying to know, have you ever really just let your mind wander? Why not just ask yourself simply, what do I want? (It's so liberating and exciting.) Please have a go and let me know your heart said back.

 Love and Hugs

Freeforall Friday- Love is in the air

Love is in the air over here in our little corner of the universe. Yesterday was the five year anniversary of the first day we met and it sure did feel good. One of my most romantic memories is sitting with Vince at a winery in Napa a few months after we had met. We were sharing a bottle of Vincent Arroyo Nameless and he said, "let's buy a few bottles to open after we've been together 5 years."

'What a guy', is all I thought and then, 'I'm gonna marry him.'

A few of our love shots:

1. Happy hour, Paris 2009
2. Our new family, Paris 2011
3. Vin chaud two nights before Vince proposed, Paris 2009
4. Our wedding night, Malta 2011

Yesterday I got a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a handwritten note. He knows that one of my favourite things is to read his handwritting especially when they are words of love and commitment.

Source

So eventhough we bought those bottles of wine that day to open 5 years later we unfortunately didn't forsee the crazy amount of travelling we'd be doing and they are still at home in Canada in My Aunt Ann's basement. To compensate we've decided to book a table at Les Pleiades restaurant a short 10min drive away in Barbizon. It's our first Michelin starred restaurant and we are so excited to see what wine they have to offer.

But nothing will beat that first bottle of Nameless in Napa with my love.

Happy Anniversary my sweetie! I can't wait to see the next 60+ years with you!


Love and Hugs and hoping you have a romantic weekend wherever you are.

Do Thursday- Honeymoon Scrapbook

Today is the five year anniversary of the night we first met.  I saw Vince from across a smoky dank basement five years ago this evening and it was the truest form of love at first sight I have ever experienced. Every part of my body and soul told me to talk to him. Thankfully I found the courage to go over there and say Hi. He obviously felt it too cause from then on we were inseparable.

So I thought for Do Thursday I would show you how we made our honeymoon scrapbook. How about that?! ;)

Alright step 1 is to get your work space ready, coffee? check!

Step 2 : Place pics where you want them then glue them. This was hard for me. I got impatient and just wanted to start glueing like a madwoman and then I thought no Sam that's not what Martha would do, right?!

Step 3: Move the floor cause it's more comfy and now you've been at it so long your dog falls asleep waiting for you to finish so you can go outside and play.

Step 4 : Whoohooo we're getting close now. Get your husband to put it together cause you're getting frustrated and about to give up. And thank goodness he figures out what to do with those stupid long rectangular pieces of extra paper that have been hanging around since the start.

Step 5 : You're done! Kiss husband, pat your self on back, call your Mom on skype to show her and that's all folks! One Honeymoon scrapbook for you, your kids and your kids kids.

Love and Hugs

Happy Anniversary you two crazy kids!

It was 3 years ago today that Ryan and Brittany were married at the Spadina house gardens in Toronto Canada. I'll never forget that beautiful smile on Brittany's face as she walked up the aisle. She looked at Ryan the way I imagine she does in secret. You know what I mean? That truly I am in love with you look. (Big pretty smile with her chin pointed down and her head a little tilted to the side.) And then I looked up at Ryan and he was pretending he wasn't going to cry while making a little smile with his dimples. Truly the sweetest moment ever! It still makes my heart swell.

It was a gorgeous ceremony in the grass followed by a hoppin' party in a chic downtown venue. The food, the decor and the cake were all absolutely amazing! I'll never forget it!

We love you guys! Here's to a million more!

Love and Hugs

One month old

We've been married for 30days! whooooohoooyippeeeeeehhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Vince is my husband!!! We are newlyweds! I'm in LOOOOOOOOOOVE!!!!!!!!!!

Happy 1 month anniversary best husband ever! Can't wait for the next million months!

Love and Hugs

True Love

These young ladies were engaged for 36 years!!!!! And finally on July 24th, 2011 they were allowed to legally marry in New York city!!! There is a wonderfully emotional 'look book' over at New York magazine that features 15 of the newlywed couples from the first day of marriage equality in New York. The story is by Rachel Baker and along with their portrait she asked the giddy couples a few sweet questions. Head over to read it if you are in the mood for love.

Thanks so much to Joanna from A Cup of Jo for sharing this! It made my heart melt!

Love and Hugs

Vince's b-day/bachelor trip

Hi guys! We are on our way to Bordeaux this weekend to visit Vince's best friend Alex and his girlfriend Valerie for the weekend. We are really lucky cause Alex is a native Bordelais and plans to show us all the ins and outs of this beautiful and incomparable region of France. Holy Crap! I can't wait! I hope I remember to spit so I can take home memories instead of a hangover! Hmmmm! We'll see how that goes! ;)

Love and Hugs

Happy 30th Birthday Vincent!

This guy I tell ya! He's just the most perfect sweetie! 30 years ago this day he was born and the search for him began.
He is the most careful, tender, loving and bossy man I have ever met! I am totally madly deeply in love with him!
Happy Birthday my lovebug! Can't wait to see your cute face for the next 70+ birthdays!

Love and Hugs