Halloween

I love Halloween. Not really the dressing up part, I don't really like that and I just don't see where my daughters got that passion for costumes. They have a room filled with stuff (jewels, scarves, wigs, hats, old clothes definitely "out") and they still use the costumes.

What I really like is giving candies to children. I'm done wandering through my neighborhood with the girls, to look for gold (candy?) mines. Now, I'm one of the sugar shacks! I like to talk to the kids, fool around with them. Some people are discouraged to see teens (well, almost adults in some cases!) still going trick or treat. I'm not, they make me laugh and I find them pretty courageous, knowing that one house out of two doesn't open their doors to them.

Every year, I wear an accessory though, to keep me in the spirit I guess. I don't know what it'll be this year but I'm so happy that I'm not away for work (like last year...), yay!

I don't live in a "kiddy" street so I have less visitors than if I'd lived a few streets west. That's why when monsters, princesses and vampires come to my door, they get the jackpot!

Update on "Messages for You"

I continued to distribute some today:

• One in the newspaper we read in the restaurant where we had breakfast.
• Another in the movie slot of a sex-shop (ma daughter was so ashamed).
• Finally, in a department store, in the pockets of over-sized pants.

Tomorrow, another region is targeted...
:-)

New Angle

Yesterday Elliot came for a new type of visit a photo «lesson», one of my new godmother - godchildren activity (Friday evening, it was Anaïs' turn). At a point, he was looking at the drawings he offered me a while ago that are posted on my armoire. He looked a little puzzled in front of this one:I told him I liked his truck, that it probably lost its three wheels, that's why they were on the side of the street. He came closer, turned the drawing upside down (still taped on the armoire) and said: "Now, that's better!

See, it's a birthday cake with candles and a present on its side..." Well, not too «quick» the godmother, hey?

13 Things I Like Doing For/With My Daughters

1. Do their hair (dry or flatten)
2. Watch a movie, TV series
3. Clear the table (much faster as a "group" and we take advantage of that time to chit-chat)
4. Drive them here and there. (My man likes it too)
5. Being able to give them an allowance (they learned a lot about money and saving because of that)
6. Listen to them
7. Talk to them
8. Share passions
9. Cuddle up
10. Go shopping (not for the buying part but for the time spent together)
11. Eat at the restaurant (we take a longer time to eat then)
12. Go on vacation (close or far away)
13. Take care of them when something is not going on too well (whatever it is)

Have I ever mentioned how much I adore them? :-)

A Message For You

I was inspired by an idea of Keri Smith's book Guerilla Art Kit but I didn't actually do it, I've let it simmered down, I guess. I have tons of projects in progress and I don't have enough time! Between sewing, the writing of the book, taking pictures, blogging, well, I work full time too!

Finally, it's Andrea (aka Hula) who gave me a little boost to give the mini messages project priority number one.

The idea is simple: leave small strips of paper on which a simple message, a lovely note is written. It's an anonymous gift to strangers: to inspire them, to make them smile, even to have them think. An example? Well something like:

• Life is great, isn't it?
• You're an extraordinary person.
• Use recycling bags when you run errands. It's good for me. Thanks, Your Planet xx
• Be nice to people you love.
• Happiness is contagious
Etc...

I started leaving my messages yesterday: in a mailbox slot, between page 1 and 2 of the local newspaper at the gas station, and a last one at my daughter's school stuck in the fence.

I still have a basket full of messages to distribute, but I'm not rushing it. I've decided not to go on an expedition like Andrea; I'll have some with me and will leave them whenever I'm inspired. Tomorrow, I have to go to Montreal for work (meeting + filming) so watch out big city, I'm coming!

Miranda's Bed

A bedroom is a shelter, a very private place, especially if you don't have to share it. My daughters have that feeling of a personnal space. That's cool. And if we are restricted by the available space (old houses for average incomes have rooms that are quite small...), imagination has all the necessary space. On her bed (yes, it was done that day, yay!), we usually find lots of animals, well organized, well behaved, no fighting around here. A few weeks ago, though, she got rid of most of the plush toys (they're hidden somewhere...) and kept the "green" ones (okay, okay, the polar bear isn't green...) with hippopotamuses in the middle of the bed.

Hippopotamuses are synonyms of a lot of souvenirs, the most important being the nickname Miranda gave them when she was very young. Even if she started talking at a very young age, she sometimes had to modify the most difficult words. (and hippopotamus, between the age of 2, well, that's something...). She called them "petits potames» (meaning little tamuses, in French). Too cute, hey? We kept the name... I offered a «petit potame» to Eliane last year. A new tradition is born!

Imagini

Found this on a blog (can't remember which one) and remembered by another blog. I've finally decided to put this visual portrait representing me on my blog.

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Photo Swap +1

You like photography?
You like receiving interesting out-of-the-ordinary stuff in the "snail" mail?
Feel like trying something new (or not that new)?

Well, come here... Ani gives the details of a photo swap +1 (+1 being an element to include in the package; a leaf, a postcard, a recipe, etc...)

I looooooove swaps!

13 Things I've Seen on the Road This Morning

1. Road work
2. People in a hurry
3. People not in a hurry
4. Traffic jam
5. A bridge
6. An overpass that is being rebuilt
7. Huge trucks
8. Impolite drivers
9. Car rears
10. Corn fields
11. Stores, restaurants, gas stations
12. Policemen (very little, in fact)
13. Fog, rain, drizzle (and my wipers going left, right, left, right...)

Fooling Around

Spending time with children, it's the gift of fooling around. Nice, sweet fooling around, nothing wild or dangerous. With my godchildren (who are twins), I'm rediscovering simple pleasures, my daughters being teenagers, I no longer fool around much (well, sometimes we still do...). So, last Friday, I picked them up at school and we did crafts, took a snack (not a healthy one, I'm the godmother, remember!) and we played outside (basketball and jump rope).

They blew in their straw to make their juice pop, picked ice cubes from their Christmas glass (much more fun in October than in December!) with their fingers, put them in their mouth, let them melt a little (of course they had water on their chin and the table was a mess...) just for the fun of it. They would never be allowed to do that at the restaurant, during family meals, but with their godmother, come on, let's get crazy!

Me? Well, I watch them, I laugh a little, I take loads of pictures (85 in 90 minutes!) and I remember the good times, when my daughters were younger, when I was a child. So, fantastic quality time with great kids... They do know how to behave too!

Thanks Anaïs, thanks Elliot.

Your godmother xx

New Label

Inspired by her, I've decided to start new posts under the label: «Home, sweet home». We all have in our house nice little coves, inspiring spots that make the different between living somewhere and being home. So, here and there, posts about my little home...

When I bought the house, it belonged to a man who worked with wood. He left his worktable behind. After painting it, sanding the countertop and oiling it, well, the result was quite satisfying. Since we don't have a lot of work space in the kitchen, this solves our problem temporarily. Practical, simple and country-style, love it!

13 Things I Find Disgusting

1. Slimy, crawly, flying, stinky creatures
2. The smell of sewers in a big city
3. Children who don't blow their nose when it's obvious they really need to
4. Adults who do the same
5. Water on counters in public restrooms (and toilet paper on the floor)
6. The smell of perspiration
7. The texture of raisins (too swooshy)
8. A fish plate with the head still there (fish in general, I must admit)
9. The smell of children's hair after a warm day, especially if they played in a sandbox
10. Dirty nails
11. People eating with their mouth open (except if it's for a joke, then I find it quite funny)
12. People who spit on the ground (come on... grow up!)
13. Children who scratch their boo-boos

Mother and Daughter(s)

Being a mother, is big. Being the mother of a daughter is bigger.

I mean... From the moment a little heart beats in our womb, we suffer from fatigue, nausea, etc. And this is the body only! Because emotion switches are present and our brain puts itself in warp speed: will I be a good mother, am I ready for this, is this the right time, and so on.

Changes, questions, emotions all over the place and that's what they call the happiness of expecting! Well, it's true... It's just that it comes with all those "difficulties» mentionned above. 9 months is a long time and that time is spent figuring out answers to those questions, it gives us the time to get used to the idea of thinking about someone else before us, it allows us to be in the "mommy" mode.

I had a first daughter in conditions that were not ideal. Well, no, they were ideal, but no father in the portrait: my family was present and supportive, my friends understood and were supportive, I was healthy (I gave a concert 2 days before delivering and I was still going dancing the last few days) and I was in a very good mood.
When the nurse gave me my baby after many hours of labor (but a rapid delivery), I couldn't see if the baby was a boy or a girl, even if it was obvious. I was in a weird state of mind, my brain couldn't process the information. That's when I became a mother, that I had a daughter.

Having a daughter is not a burden, it's not complicated, it's not a lot of problems (which is not the case in India where -I heard this on the radio this morning- some people get rid of female foetuses to avoid bankruptcy, because there you still have to pay a lot of money for your daughter to marry). Having a daughter, when you're a woman it's having the possibility to have a close relationship with someone who is going to go through the same steps, phases, stuff you've gone through in a different world, with different influences, with a little bit of you.

Ok, let me explain. When I was a child, I went through girls' stuff, phases in an "x" world. Because I lived with my daughter, I guided her, influenced her and she's going throught the same stuff, phases in a "y" world. She's using what I've given her in her life. And I chose to give her the best of what I myself received from my mother. I guess we're hoping to improve the education we give our daughters. Promote the best and avoid the worst.

However, girls go through the worst anyway. It might even be necessary: difficulties probably make use stronger, more equipped. We can still guide them, talk to them, prepare them for the "worst".

Without promoting anything here, there's a company that sells beauty (the message is interesting, but we're talking money, right?) in a healthier, more appropriate way...

Lonely

My love is away and I miss him... No panic, he'll be back very soon. It's crazy, a while ago, I would have been so happy to be on my own at home for a couple of days. Falling in love does that to people, they get goo goo when their love is away for a few hours, days. Can't possibly imagine what it would be if he had to go for weeks!

We're trying to act like big girls, Ali and I. I work more (evenings as well), I cook meals (gotta eat), I watch TV without looking on my left (where Claude usually sits) and I sleep with a pillow in my arms (no comments...). And, uh tomorrow my friend Tanja is coming so we can continue working on our great project.

Good night my love, sweet dreams!

13 Projects For My Weekend

1. Cook something sweet for Creacamp
2. Gather my stuff for Creacamp
3. Go to Creacamp (Can't wait!)
4. Continue the quilt I started last weekend
5. Go to the grocery
6. Read a little (this, this or this)
7. Surf on the Internet
8. Do my Gratitude Journal
9. Start a new sewing project or cut pictures from my magazines
10. Vacuum cleaning and ironing (yukky...)
11. Spend loving moments with my lover
12. Spend time with my daughters
13. Watch a few Smallville 6 episodes with Alizée

Clean «Green»

We never know when we will make an interesting discovery.

Last Friday, as I was with my daughter filming for work, we made a short stop at a store. Sophie had already mentioned how great she felt by cleaning «green», but honestly, I thought it might be easy in a big city like Montreal to find those products, not here. Well, I was wrong. There's a store at 570 Mondor (close to a place I lived a looooong time ago), in Saint-Hyacinthe, where they sell all the necessary cleaning stuff for your body, clothes, windows and floors.

As soon as I finish my naughty-so-bad cleaning products, I switch to «green» stuff. On top of everything, the gentlemen there are really nice. At my daughter's school, they've gradually replaced soaps and cleaning products for ecological products. And you, when do you switch to «green»?

There You Go!

I told you I wanted to hang my poster in a different way. 6 clothespins, a little hot glue and there you go!

Masks From Bonaventure (Gaspésie)

I've discovered Gaspésie a couple of years ago and I adore it. Wide spaces, proximity to the sea, breathtaking landscapes, pebbles on all beaches, small villages, it's pretty different from the big city which I adore as well; as you can see I'm a woman full of contrasts!

These masks, painted by Miranda remind me wonderful souvenirs from Bonaventure, a nice village close to la Baie des Chaleurs. I found this place on the Internet where my daughters and I have spent half a day painting masks. Since then, I crave to go on vacation and stop by different similar places. Haven't found what I'm looking for, yet...

13 Positives Aspects of Filming in My Hometown

For my work, I have to produce a short film and it's been great...

1. The inspiring theme (peace...)
2. Having Alizée as a camera woman
3. Finding a nice store where they sell biodegradable cleaning products (I'll talk about it later)
4. Talk to nice people
5. Talk to people I haven't seen in a long time
6. Being at ease to talk to strangers
7. The positive reactions of everyone I met
8. Find great ideas, an interesting concept
9. It was a wonderful day (a very warm day too!)
10. The great sense of humor of many people
11. The people's generosity
12. Having some difficulty to find a filthy place or one filled with junk, in my hometown
13. Realizing that we made many people happy by filming them

How to Be An Artist

This is what I offered my friend for her birthday, yesterday. I bought one for myself too, it's such a wonderful poster. Instead of framing it, I'm going to try another way of hanging it on the wall. As soon as I'm done, I'll post it. For now, I'm just leaving you with SARK's suggestions of actions to seriously do, to be(come?) an artist. Inspiring... (FYI: I ordered it here. Took a while to get it, but t'was sooooo worth it!)
Again, happy birthday, T!

I'm a Happy Person

I love the postcard swaps because I love doing them, first of all. I also love them because, for once, I can receive something fun from the mailman. And since I work mostly from home, I have a chance to see him coming, I expect him (well, not in the sense that, well you know, I don't expect him him, I just expect what he can bring me, there, said...) from day to day.

Yesterday I received my moo minicards and I had the same feeling: excited to have something fun in my mailbox. Today, excitement reaches climax: I received my moo stickerbook AND a gift for me and my partner in crime that I ordered a month ago (can't tell you what it is, 'cause she might be reading, right now, and her birthday is only tomorrow, so shhhhhh!).

I know it's a little childish to get excited for such a small thing, but when you work from home, alone all day, you get excitement where you can!

Finally Here!

Ordered a few weeks ago, my "moo minicards" have just arrived. I've taped some on my postcards' envelopes, I wanted to share my joy with my fellow swappers. I've made a keychain with another. I'm so eager to share them with my friends and family! On the back are written my blog and flickr addresses. They're like business cards, but prettier and way more personal...

13 Books I've Enjoyed Reading

1. Mister Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran (Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt)
2. Someone I Loved ((Anna Gavalda)
3. Hunting and Gathering (Anna Gavalda)
4. I Wish Someone Were Waiting for Me Somewhere (Anna Gavalda)
5. Salt on Our Skin (Benoite Groult)
6. In the Fast lane (Alexandre Jardin)
7. Silk (Alessandro Baricco)
8. Stargirl (Jerry Spinelli)
9. The Five People You Meet in Heaven (Mitch Albom)
10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (J.K. Rowling) (The Whole Serie, in fact...)
11. The Red Notebook (Paul Auster)
12. The Shadow of the Wind (Carlos Ruiz Zafon)
13. We Need to Talk About Kevin (Lionel Shriver)

Postsecrets

I bought a very special book a few weeks ago at Urban Outfitters. I should have bought books # 2 and # 3 (not there anymore...). I'll eventually order them on the Internet. And I just discovered that there is a # 4! Postsecrets is a very interesting idea that originated from a blog. Here's a short video that says it all and the music by Sia (Breathe Me) is fantastic.

I love that type of stuff...

Nurturing Creativity

To be creative or not to be creative. I always tell people that everyone is creative. And if we lose some aspects of it as we get older, we must nurture creativity, it's vital. Well, others think the same.

Working in education and having that train of thought, if only you knew how good I feel when I hear that...

The clips are approximately 20 minutes long, but they are sooooooo worth it! Enjoy...

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

Alizée creates surprising things. And this mural is exactly like that. She told me she worked hard to get this shape as she placed the photos one by one. Click on the picture to see it larger. You will see that those girls are really having fun. What a great idea to print the photos with different colored filters. Lots of work, hmmm.... of fun!

13 Signs That Fall Is Coming

1. Our garden is history
2. The lawn is filled with apples that fell from our trees
3. Nights are colder (okay, not tonight)
4. In the morning, we need to put on a little sweater or something
5. It's getting darker earlier in the evening
6. The girls are back to school
7. I'm doing my postcards for the fall swap
8. I'm preparing training sessions that I'll be giving soon
9. I don't go swimming anymore (my man still does)
10. Maple and apple leaves are changing colors and falling on the ground
11. There are lots of wasps (because of the apples!)
12. Going to Montreal in the morning is not easy
13. At Marché Jean-Talon, there are looooots of fresh vegetables (great colors and flavors...)

A Little Late!

I know, today is Friday and usually, I write about something I love on Thursday. Well, yesterday I went out, arrived home late, I was tired, not inspired, bla-bla-bla...

So here I am. I've received a beautiful postcard for the Fall Postcard Swap and it inspired me so I started mine. They're not entirely finished, but they're on their way.

I find this idea of making and sending postcard so interesting. And we send them to perfect strangers sometimes living far away from home. And it's a pleasure to send them as much as to receive them. And it's a great opportunity to create, to find a concept, to get ready for it, to start it, to see our ideas become reality. I really like postcard swaps. Do you?

Blog Things

I've discovered this site with little "things" to add to your blog.

I've decided to include this one, for fun. I felt like a teenager again...

You Are a Purple Crayon

Your world is colored in dreamy, divine, and classy colors. You hold yourself to a sky high standard, and you are always graceful. People envy, idolize, and copy you without realizing it. You are an icon for those who know you. And while it is hard to be a perfectionist, rest assured it's paying off! Your color wheel opposite is yellow. While yellow people may be wise, they lack the manners and class needed to impress you.

A funny thing, I did the quiz where it's supposed to tell me, after some totally unrelated questions, which 2nd language I should learn. Well, a revelation: I should learn French! Seriously!

Neighbour

I've seen this short film many times and I still laugh when I see the guys' face...

13 Things You Might Ignore About Me

1. I'm very picky when it comes to food. I don't like fish, pears, olives, lobster, raisins, garlic, dill pickles and so many more. However, I adore Bruxelles sprouts, turnips, eggplants, goat cheese, shrimps. And I eat fruits only when they are perfectly ripe, not before, not after. Croissants and bread have to be extremely fresh, so does milk. I drink an impressive quantity of water but it has to be spring water. My man says my mouth is snobbish. I guess he's right.

2. I react to medication a lot, I must take the info about possible side effects. I'm allergic to Penicillin and don't tolerate Ventolin. I've been hospitalized before because the antibiotics I was taking got me sicker. I try to avoid being sick as much as possible :-)

3. As a teen, my parents were too cool. Really. I didn't whine about it (I was a teenager!) but now, I know it was not what I needed then. Anyway, my friends thought I was sooooo lucky.

4. I'm a real catastrophe in most sports. In fact, in most sports where you need equipement (skis, skates, sticks, balls, rackets). First time I went down-hill skiing, I took the chair lift and didn't get out. Someone came to get me, with a ladder. T'was clearly embarrassing... I'm a great dancer though!

5. I have a mole on my right knee. My doctor often offered to take it off, but I think I'm a little attached to it.

6. Before studying to become a teacher, I studied Communication for a year to become a journalist. At night I was constantly dreaming I was teaching in a dream school. By the way, this school exists...

7. I play the flute and the piano. To be honest, I played, but one day, I'll play again.

8. I'm working on a fantastic project with Tanja. To be continued...

9. I have a giddiness problem.

10. I don't like animals. Sorry beasts, I don't wanna be your friend. C'est la vie!

11. I collect lots of things. I've always done that. Getting older makes it worse.

12. In the car, with my daughters, we sometimes do the fingers dance, I can't explain it, you gotta be there. It's a little like Claude's little finger dog. No really, you have to be there..

13. I never open my eyes under water, I hate it and I can't see a thing anyway. I always swim with my arms in front of me to avoid hitting someone or something.

Metal

I love the city, so metal I like too. I like bridges, structures ... and sewers! Don't panic, it's only because they show the name of the city I'm in that I like them. Otherwise, duh... In January, we started this tradition in San Diego while we were on vacation with the girls. Some kind of proof we've been there...

Miranda

I was sitting at my work table when I ask out loud: "What should I be writting on for my 'Thursday Love' entry?" "Talk about me", said Miranda matter-of-factly. A special request like that, how could I refuse?

So, my Mimi... You'd have to meet her in person to understand how nice and happy-joy-joy this child, hmmm teen, is. She is very curious: so many questions on so many topics, in the car earlier, we discussed atomic bomb shelters and she was astonished to learn that I've lived in one for around 10 days in 1993, when we toured in Switzerland with the Philharmonique (I used to play the flute). We've talked about loans, raising kids, politics and those were the easy topics!

She loves doing arts and crafts, play on the computer, take pictures, write poems, play the piano, spend time with her friends (Lucie, Maude, Sarah), swim, watch 'Charmed' (and recently CSI!) and talk. Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk. She started talking at very young age. Everything related to words have always fascinated her. She even learned to read at 4, on her own. One day I was reading her a book, while pointing at the words, a few days later, she was reading. It was as simple as that.

Miranda is a little kitty (but I'm definitely NOT allergic to that tyupe of kitten) who likes to be cuddled, who looks for hugs and kisses. And she likes posing for her mother, as you can see on the photo. Miranda, I love you, so a lot very much... Mom xx

Fire

Fire is an element I like a lot. I love its light, I'm definitely a woman who dislikes darkness. I also love heat; I'm always feeling cold. Even if the ambient temperature is warm, it's not uncommon for my feet to be cold. In the winter, I have to make sure I cover my ears, the tip of my nose and my fingers who freeze so rapidly, it's almost ridiculous. Naturally, my feet follow not so long after...

If it was not for the bugs, I'd be a fan of campfires. The smell of burning wood (& BBQ) is a direct link to nice childhood memories.

For my 40th birthday, I went to Paris, to make sure I wouldn't feel time flying. It worked! Of course, as tourists, we had to stop by the Cathédrale Notre-Dame. The majority of the photos taken inside are too dark, but this one, I like. I have a thing for those mini candles and I have a large stock at home, in case of another ice storm...!

Air

Air is quite a problem for me, personally. During the month of June, pollen carried by the wind makes me irritable (a little) but mostly weary (very, very). I become a big walking tissue. And the wind isn't my best friend even if my oldest daughter is named after a wind. However, wind is fantastic when it comes to photography.

Come on, look at these gling-gling skirts! We can almost see the wind, the air moving and creating enchanting music. It was easy to imagine young women shaking their hips and hypnotizing men. Photo taken in a flea market in New York, two weeks ago.

Earth

A few years ago, I met a great woman. We worked together, had long conversations, shared our passions and discovered new ones. She showed me her photos from her trips in exotic countries (Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica) and I adored them. I remember that one of her photos was a shot of her feet in the sand, viewed from above. I love that photo and that's why I often take pictures of our feet, on vacation.

Above are Miranda's feet on Washington D.C.'s ground (well, earth... here's the link with the theme!) from last year's summer vacation. I loved the US capital; its historical and commemorative monuments, its free museums. Notice that the ground in the parks located near the museums made of small pebbles. Lovely!

Water

I gave in to temptation (easy...) and decided to do a week based on the five elements. What a nice idea. It gives me the chance of looking at my photos with a different perspective. And I've decided to share photos taken during previous vacations, in different towns.

Today, Monday, for the water theme I've chosen a photo taken at the New England Aquarium in Boston, two weeks ago on a short trip with my two daughters. I have been to the aquarium already, a couple of years ago; Alizée too, last year. And Miranda had her turn this year. I didn't really want to take pictures inside, it is very dark and in general, I'm not really satisfied with the results in these conditions.

But then, at the end, I surrendered and I admit that I don't regret it at all. I love the pictures of the anemones, they are beautiful plants. I love the ocean, but more as a landscape than a pool (and, as a road, well... I guess it's fine). In fact, I rarely swim in it; the poor swimmer I am must be the reason. But the sea... The seashore. The sound of the sea. The smell of the sea. And those wonderful creatures living under the sea...

My 13 Favorite Rufus Wainwright Songs

A few days ago, I was in New York City listening to him with great pleasure, in Central Park, under the rain... And it was fantastic!

1. Hallelujah
2. Vicious World
3. Go or Go Ahead
4. Beautiful Child
5. Gay Messiah
6. Memphis Skyline
7. I Eat Dinner
8. Do I Disappoint You
9. Going to a Town
10. Between My Legs
11. Rules and Regulations
12. Grey Garden
13. Dinner at Eight

Laughing

I love to laugh, a lot. And I discovered this website two days ago: I can has cheezburger. The photographs are funny, but it's the added comments that often make them soooo funny. I especially like this one.

For a girl who doesn't like cats (I'm allergic, so I kinda developed an antipathy towards them after sneezing and having trouble breathing, that's quite a good reason to dislike cats, right?), I had a lot of fun watching those.

Check for new pictures regularly!

13 Things I Want To Do, To See in New York

1. See and listen to Rufus Wainwright's show in Central Park, Sunday evening
2. Stop by Tiffany's (just because...)
3. Eat a sundae at Serendipity's (Tanja's suggestion)
4. Visit MoMA (Tanja, again)
5. Eat a cupcake at Cupcakes Cafe (Andrea's been there last fall)
6. Go on Canal Street (according to my teenager and my husband I gotta got at least once in my life)
7. Wander through Chinatown (after Montréal and San Francisco, we must see NY's)
8. Buy stuff in a REAL flea market
9. Walk on Broadway, by night
10. Walk in Central Park, by day
11. Eat a hot-dog on the street (my husband fantasizes about that)
12. Take an incredible number of photos (easy!)
13. Not forget to photograph our feet on a sewer where "New York" is written on it (a proof we've been there...)

Mother-Daughters Vacation

I did something new: went on a four-day vacation with my daughters only (our man had to work...).

We left on Monday and made a short stop at the beach (2 hours!); we've discovered we're not really beach girls after all. But the city... Boston was waiting for us: Boston Common, Quincy Market, the Aquarium, the North End, Newbury Street and Copley Place. And, oh, the great Boston pizza and, of course, whoopie pies!

The girls have been fantastic, I adored our trip.

And I'm going away again tomorrow! Rufus and I have a date in central Park, I don't really have a choice, you know, gotta go...

13 Activities I Did With Elliot and Anaïs

Click here for the pictures of our day together...

1. Act crazy with the finger puppets (try making the noise of a giraffe or a panda!!!)
2. Do arts 'n crafts
3. Learn to make bubble with chewing gum (in process...)
4. Use the hot glue gun A-L-O-N-E!
5. Send a postcard to a someone you don't know (postcard swap is for youngsters too!)
6. Watch fish in their tank
7. Eat at the Golden Arches (a Godmother's classic...)
8. Sip slushies
9. Paint
10. Introduce "ze" monster (982 years old, partly mechanic)
11. Draw the ocean (probably inspired by the fish tank we saw earlier...) using chalk, in the driveway
12. Swim (and drop the chewing gum in the water)
13. Play the piano

Creacamp

I've just registered to go to the next creacamp. I've read many blogs where authors were talking about their meeting in Chicago (BlogHer) and it gave me the courage (well, the word is a little too strong, I admit...) to go for it too (made in Québec). I'm still not ready to give a presentation, talk about my stuff. I'll sneak around, first. And we'll see for the following time!

I'm on something with Tanja. It's still an embryo (ok, more a sprakle in the universe) but it keeps going around in my head... We'll redefine our work or at least give it an essential boost. Our arts 'n crafts dates have such a positif impact on us, we decided we have to do something about them. To be continued...

Sweet Sixteen

At 11:33 (PM), on the 8th day of the 8th month, in 1991 was born my first daughter, Alizée. It was a joyous moment, filled with happiness where my live changed for the best. My sister on my side, I delivered a wonderful little girl who has grown up a lot since then.

I remember how she was rocked with care, watched 101 Dalmatians all the time, created stories about princes and knights (not really the princess type; she found the princesses boring and preferred the princes who had swords, horses and lives filled with action and excitement), found the joys of computers, learned to make bubbles with chewing gum (an important moment in the lives of children), became a scout (to learn about survival techniques, camouflage and building shelters), started high school and decided she wanted to go to boarding school. One day she became a woman, another day she had her first girls' night at home while us, the parents, were gone.

That's all yesterday. Today, she is 16...

Happy birthday my sweet Alizée!
Mom xx

Unbelievable

You've heard about Hula desperately looking for the butter? Well, she and I sometimes go through similar situations. So here, we were desperately looking for the 3rd CD. I've burnt 3 for my husband who spends a lot of time in his car, so he can listen to good music and, obviously think about how wonderful his wife is (nothing's free, hey?). I've put the CDs in the car late in the evening on Thursday with a post-it (t'was a surprise) and placed them so he could see them as he sat in the car, in the morning.

He was, oh so happy about CD #1 and CD #3 but for days now, we couldn't find CD #2. AND I KNEW I PUT IT IN THE CAR! I looked on my desk (maybe I didn't put it in the car?), Claude looked in both our cars (in case I mixed his CD with my CDs) and again, and again. After writing a comment on Hula's blog I decided I needed to go see by myself in the car. You know how women are, they have to go see by themselves! My husband was laughing a little, knowing "it wasn't there", but still he wanted the darn CD. So I started looking under the seat, behind the seat and then I saw it...And I was almost ready to accuse Monsieur Lebel...
Monsieur Lebel was my neighbor when I was a child and we always accused him of taking stuff we couldn't find anymore. Of course, it was impossible he had taken any of our stuff, or, was it? (Horror film music as a background...)

Bread

Today's artistic creations are Claude's delicious hot buns. The bread he makes has different shapes but today, they were muffins-like. With Nutella, mmmmm...

It's the girls who told me that Saturday's blog could also include Claude's creations, not only theirs. I must admit that my husband is an artist at heart. His cuisine is divine, his furnitures fit perfectly, his sense of humor is really funny and his love is endless (ok, the latter isn't related but I adore that he loves me so much... :-)

13 Songs I Like to Listen to Nowadays

1. Hey There Delilah / Plain White T's
2. U-Turn (Lili) / Aaron (From the movie Je vais bien, ne t'en fais pas)
3. Flagpole Sitta / Harvey Danger (And its funny video I adore)
4. Evil Woman / E.L.O. (Thanks to Pancakemama for reminding me that song!)
5. Everything / Michael Buble
6. Superman / Lazlo Bane (I'm hooked on Scrubs and it's the theme)
7. Tempted / Squeeze (Because of the Heineken TV commercial)
8. How Soon is Now / The Smiths (Since I started watching Charmed with my daughter)
9. La Revencha del Tango / Gotan Project
10. Big Girls Don't Cry / Fergie
11. Cruel to Be Kind / Marshall Crenshaw (Memories from my college years...)
12. Fallen From the Sky / Glen Hansard (From the movie Once)
13. The Hill / Marketa Irglova (From the movie Once)

My Beautiful Photos

I've finally decided to print my photos. I started with my family photos the first shot, and now I've gone for the big thing and had my "beautiful photos" printed. They're the kind of photos that make me say I'm enjoying photography even though it sounds a little too "pro" for what I'm doing. With digital cameras, everyone can make nice photos. Still, I'm very proud when I look at my little babies. I'm now looking for an album to put my treasures, something special, of course!

They're really beautiful, aren't they? (Double click on it to see them bigger...)

13 Streets Where I've Lived

1. Desaulniers (Saint-Hyacinthe)
2. Tanguay (Sainte-Rosalie)
3. Ducène (Aylmer)
4. Joliette (Montréal)
5. Mondor (Saint-Hyacinthe)
6. Sainte-Catherine (Montréal)
7. Saint-Urbain (Montréal)
8. Barclay (Montréal)
9. Bourdages (Saint-Hyacinthe)
10. Demers (Saint-Hyacinthe)
11. Principale (Saint-Dominique)
12. Robert (Saint-Hyacinthe)
13. Dieppe! (Saint-Hyacinthe)

My Mess

I've invaded the dining room for a few days because of my sewing. This summer seems to be the summer of all quilts. The first one was done in a flash (2 days of cutting, 2 days of sewing) but it's clearly not the case with the second. Well, I only spend an hour or two a day on it, that slows down the process a little!

When I go by this mess, I don't get sick because of it. Before, I couldn't let myself leave my stuff all over the place. Miss "everything-must-be-put-away" kind of person. Now I can tell myself that this mess is justified, that it is my work station, a place to create, a nook for little pleasures. So I live within this mess (non permanent though) and I don't feel guilty, I don't feel I'm a bad mother giving the wrong example to her teenage daughters, I don't have the impression that I'm lazy for not cleaning up. I'm learning to appreciate mess, to analyze it and to even find it beautiful. Hummm, is it really me talking? :-)

Summer Vacations

I'm in the middle of my summer vacations and loving every minute of it. Been to the movies, read a little (more to come), swam in our pool, sewed a lot, took pictures, went to the restaurant with my loved ones, listened to great music and in 2 days will do arts 'n crafts with my dear friend Tanja.

And this morning, an envelope that clearly wasn't a bill nor junk... A few weeks ago I sent Cathy a CD with "musique québécoise" and she answered back with a lovely thank you card and this great other card.

I felt so good while preparing my surprise to her, I wasn't looking for anything in exchange but I did make a connection with someone living far from Québec and that's what is so precious to me. Those who say that Internet isolates us are missing the point... Internet can be a way of connecting to others in a different and interesting way. It's my summer "coup de coeur". Being nice to people (even if you don't really know them) is so much fun!

With a Little Umbrella

In our home, sweet home lives a 16 year-old (in 18 days) who just started her driving lessons. 16 is a big jump, a giant step because of that. So she's learning the meaning of all the road signs and is way more interested by what's happening to our feet while driving (learning to drive with a standard car seems to be "something"...). Well, mademoiselle is getting older. That's what happens to all of us everyday, but somehow, it seems that at times, in our life, it shows a little more.

She's helping out too. Tonight as we were getting ready for dinner, she agreed to prepare Claude a drink. A drink, a real one, with al-co-hol! She carefully followed the recipe (ice, lemon, coke, rhum -a little more, ok, that's fine, stop, that's plenty!). You can admire her creation, decorated with a nice little umbrella!

13 Movies I've Seen Up to Now, This Summer

I know, it's a lot, but I'm addicted!

There's a little bug here, though. I can't (really, I can't) go to my hometown cinema anymore. People chit chat, explain the movies out loud, read out loud what's written on the screen, eat candies and make lots of noise with their bags. And it doesn't get any better. Sorry folks, but I'm ashamed of being a Maskoutaine (a person living in St-Hyacinthe) some days...

1. Once (Wow, wow, wow)
2. Paris, je t'aime (Stories around the same theme: a success)
3. Evening (Touching)
4. Harry Potter et l'ordre du Phénix (Magical?!)
5. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (Not complicated)
6. Danny Ocean 13 (Ok)
7. Nitro (Lots of stuff going on...)
8. Je vais bien, ne t'en fais pas (Wonderful theme song)
9. Je vous trouve très beau (Funny)
10. Ne le dis à personne (Thriller)
11. The Painted Veil (2 thumbs up)
12. Vis libre ou crève (Action, again and again)
13. and Hairspray (in less than an hour!)

Going Out Solo

I spent the afternoon and the evening at the movies. I saw Evening, Paris je t'aime and Once. Movies just like the ones I like with stories about girls, love, music. I spent a great time with myself :-)

Since I was downtown, I decided to make a quick stop at Urban Outfitters. Not for the clothes (not my style), but for the books. I always discover interesting stuff. I've finally found a Keri Smith book and I started reading it while eating my ceasar's salad at Guido and Angelina. And in the car, both ways, I had Rufus singing loudly, very loudly! It was the kind of day I love...

Eau la la

I envy my Mimi... She came back from her father's with a collage a few weeks ago and it's wonderful. I'm well too organized when I do collages while my little one (well, not so little, she's growing up and growing up!) can easily let go and creates spontaneous groupings that are fresher, more complex also. I absolutely need to work on that.

So I woke up this morning with a desire to cover our other TV blanket, but instead of the traditional quilt so calculated, with the colors so organized, I've decided to go bananas... A little... Hmm, we'll see about that. I should consult my daughters to know their trick :-)

13 Things To Eat This Summer

1. strawberries
2. raspberries
3. sandwiches made with Claude's garden tomatoes
4. corn on the cob (2 colors)
5. Dairy Queen's ice cream
6. birthday cake (Roxane, Alizée)
7. peaches
8. shrimp dip (with chili, sour cream, cream cheese, peppers, orange)
9. spicy steaks (or marinated pork fillets) cooked on the BBQ
10. whipped cream
11. bruschettas
12. vegetables cooked on the BBQ
13. radishes

Fabrics

Last week-end, I finally made the quilt I had planned on doing for a few years (years? really? my, my...). I had bought lots of fabrics of different shades of blue and the result is quite nice. I'll take pictures and put them on my flickr soon. As soon as I'm done with a sewing project, I have to start thinking about the next one. And I've got beautiful ideas. In order to make them come true, though, I had to go shopping for new fabrics. Oh no, not fabric shopping... :-) Yesssssss Mamma!

I love walking the aisles and discover different textures, varied colors, adorable patterns. I'm always looking for a treasure: forgotten fabrics, cheap ones, or those that are at the wrong place. You can see my latest acquisitions on the first picture, too cool, hey?

13 Reasons to Enjoy Summer

1. Going to bed really late (and wake up really late too!)
2. More time to sew, do arts and crafts, etc.
3. It's warm outside, no coats needed
4. Sleep with the windows open
5. Flowers everywhere
6. Vegetables and fruits taste better
7. Read for hours, outside
8. When it's too hot, we can get into the pool
9. Vacations
10. Going out solo, duo, trio or the whole family
11. My complexion has a healthier look, no need for make up
12. Cocktails
13. My skin is soft, no more dry skin...

Colors

I'm a color addict. I adore playing with them, organizing them, make packages or decors according to specific colors. Last Christmas I prepared those gifts for my daughters, the selected color: silver!

When I did the postcard swap organized by Andrea, I've played with my magazine multicolor scraps of paper (when I buy magazines, I tear them apart and recycle most of the parts for future arts & crafts). I made a few piles organizing them by colors: yellow, orange, red, green, blue, pink... One of those life little pleasures.

On Wikipedia, I discovered pages where they mention the different shades of colors (see at the bottom of the page). I know much more about colors now!