Feel Like Weeping?

Then read this...

"Children need love, especially when they do not deserve it".

Harold S. Hulbert

Found here

Viva Discovery!

"The scandal of education is that every time you teach something, you deprive a child of the pleasure and benefit of discovery".

Seymour Papert

13 Things You Probably Don't Know About Me

1. I did some modeling when I was a child.
2. I once «forgot» to get out of a chair lift.
3. I can walk (or dance) for hours without feeling tired.
4. I'm obsessed by homemade donuts (my husband only makes a batch once a year, otherwise I can't stop myself). By the way, there are still a few in the freezer. They are talking to me, calling me. No joke.
5. I am a very good public. Watching a funny movie at the cinema with me is quite an experience :-)
6. I can't sleep if my feet are cold. It's the only thing that can stop me from falling asleep.
7. Less than 3 years ago, it was im-pos-si-ble for me to tolerate mess. I'm over that now and I feel a lot better.
8. I can hardly see myself with a car that would be automatic.
9. I've had my cell phone for more than 6 years and I don't plan on changing it soon. It still works fine.
10. I can't watch eye surgery on TV. When I go to get my eyes checked I'm the freak who won't let the doctor do some of the tests. (Nothing goes into my eyes. No-way).
11. When I watch TV, I'm always covered by one of my quilts. Even in the summer.
12. Being on the road inspires me (driving or not).
13. I'm not a big fan of fine cuisine.

La vie en rose

I'm really in a good mood these days. Everything's going well. Verrrrrrry well, indeed. I see la vie en rose and it's wonderful.

Here are my newest creations, I like them very much and I'm having a blast making them. I was originally making them for little girls, but it struck me that I can use the extra bling for myself. Don't we all?

I made other flower brooches and some more for children celebrating their birthdays. They are here, if you are interested!

Also coming up soon, my Etsy store (because my main site is still in French only, it'll be bilingual one day, but it takes time so for now, Etsy will do the job...) will have more of my items.

Ciao! And enjoy the day...

Yoga

There's a program here in Quebec called the 5/30 challenge. For six weeks, at least five days a week, you eat a minimum of 5 fruits/vegetables and do 30 minutes of exercise. I've decided to do it, but not only for a couple weeks. I really want to do it. I'm doing it. Up to now it's way easier than I thought.

With the snow on the sidewalks and all, it is not really possible for me to do my power walk (which I loved doing in the fall), so I switched to yoga. As soon as I wake up I put on my little yoga kit and I stretch, I breathe. It feels good and I've realized I'm already more relaxed. I thought it'd be difficult to do yoga on my own, but I'm quite motivated and I found a good moment to do it. I found my yoga sheets from the time I did yoga with Isabelle et Daniel. Great memories.

As for the fruits and vegetables, since I love them (especially the veggies), that's fine. I have discovered the great taste of squashes and I'm hooked. I love the spaghetti squash (so easy to prepare, an hour in the oven at 350 and it's ready! And delicious...). There's also the butternut squash which makes a fine soup with carrots, an onion, sweet potatoes if you have any, a little chicken broth and spices (thyme, cayenne pepper), so tasty.

Feeling like doing the 5/30 challenge too?

Foutaises, a Short Film by Jean-Pierre Jeunet

A short film that was some kind of inspiration (I've read that somewhere) for Amélie's adventure... You will see Dominique Pinon who also played in the movie.

Nice.

Here, everyone is on vacation, that's great...

For Paris Lovers

Ahhhhh, Paris...

13 Sites Where You Can Buy Online

Some of these sites don't sell international, but the items are so cute I couldn't resist. It might even give you travel ideas!

1. Dringdring

2. Made by Hank

3. Violet

4. Anthropologie

5. Pip Studio

6. Decorative Country Living

7. Rikshaw Design

8. The White Company

9. The Green Gate

10. JCaroline Creative

11. Zone

12. Shabby Chic

13. Finally, of course... monRendez-vous!

Organized

I have fabric.
Lots of fabric.
And a large armoire but it was jam-packed.
I had to do what I had to do.
Took me an entire Sunday.
Hundreds of pieces of fabric of varied colors, textures, nicely folded, well organized, the ugliest at the back, the prettiest at the front (how discriminatory, life's unfair).
Happy.
Very, very.
Just gotta keep the rhythm!
P.S. 1: Beloved stepmother just sent me two huge bags of fabric. Where am I supposed to put those? My life is filled with drama, I know :-)
P.S. 2: And no, the bottom shelf is not organized. Will stay like that. Because.

Six Little Things I Do

A Follow-up to Guylaine's post...

1. Listen to VERY LOUD music (like I'm doing right now: Keane, David Usher, Imogen Heap, Dido...)
2. Stroll around in a fabric store
3. Wrap myself in one of the quilts I made when I watch TV
4. When there is almost no one else at the movie theatre (ahhh, empty rooms)
5. Change my handwriting for fun
6. Cut (I can do that for hours, but this pleasure comes with a major bug, I have to buy magazines = $$$)

Let's Decorate!

The Holidays are officially here: I made decorations for Xmas trees yesterday. They are sold here, if you are interested. More to come!

13 Songs I Listen to When I Do My Powerwalk

1. Days Go By / Dirty Vegas
2. Disturbia / Rhianna
3. Dreamer / Hilary Duff
4. Get Together /Madonna
5. The Getaway / Hilary Duff
6. Hungry Like the Wolf / Duran Duran
7. Out of My Head / Mobile
8. Point de mire / Ariane Moffat
9. Smalltown Boy / Bronski Beat
10. Unison (Remix)/ Celine Dion
11. Viva la Vida / Cold PLay
12. The Walk / Imogen Heap
13. Where the Street Have No Name / U2

Meb: Anne Niverre

Congrats to Meb who shows up for the first time at urler.tv

I love...
the rhythm made by the typewriter
the pink rainboots
the Powerpuff Girls party hats
the green fence
the words written with a chalk
the party flute
the bow on the track
the hopscotch
the ukulele
Meb's soft voice...

13 Books I Love Looking at Again and Again...

1. How to Be an Explorer of the World (Keri Smith)
2. Messy Thrilling Life: The Art of Figuring Out How to Live (Sabrina Ward Harrison)
3. Wreck This Journal (Keri Smith)
4. The 1000 Journals Project (Kevin Kelly and Someguy)
5. Spilling Open: The Art of Becoming Yourself (Sabrina Ward Harrison)
6. The Five Senses (Hervé Tullet)
7. I Love... (Minne / Natali Fortier)
8. Brave on the Rocks: If You Don't Go, You Dont See (Sabrina Ward Harrison)
9. All the Postsecrets books(Frank Warren)
10. Peace: 100 Ideas (Joshua C. Chen & David Krieger)
11. Seasonal Home (Kristin Perers)
12. Country Living Shoestring Chic: Extraordinary Style for Less (The Editors Of Country Living)
13. Garden House: Bringing the Outdoors In (Bonnie Dahan)

Little man

I babysat a fantastic little man yesterday.
6 months old.
An unbelievable smile.
Come back anytime, Mateo.
The smiley cup will be there, waiting for you!

13 Random Facts at Ariane Moffat's Show Last Night

1. Ariane is brilliant, handles the public well, sings divinely and is clearly having lots of fun on stage.
2. Good chemistry between her and her musicians was obvious.
3. Inspiring lighting.
4. Graphic animations very appropriate and contributed to a comfy ambiance.
5. Her adaptations to her songs are always great, we do not miss the original versions (which is not the case usually)
6. Her public loves her, warm atmosphere (if you forget the 2-3 year-old screaming in the theatre... Can someone explain this to me, I don't understand. Ariane reacted well to the situation, good for her!)
7. The room was not organized for dancing, but Ariane made us stand up and we danced through one song.
8. Sound, wow... We could easily hear the lyrics and all the musical subtleties. Grrrrrreat.
9. Marie-Pierre Fournier as a «first part» (3 songs), beautiful voice, funny on stage, remember her name.
10. Even the songs I like a little less were fantastic.
11. The musical chair game (each musician changing instrument for a song), fun and friendly.
12. Go to a show in my hometown and barely knowing anyone, weird. Luckily I was with a good friend of mine.
13. I thought of my daughters a lot during the show, the tickets were my birthday gift (hugs and kisses darlings, thanks a lot!).

I'm An Explorer.

•Bought another of Keri Smith's book (how can we resist, she is so great).

•Realizing how much I've been an explorer, a person who needs to collect for as long as I can remember.

•Observing more than ever, using my 5 senses.

•Feeling the need to analyze what I observe.

•Not asking myself why I needed to slow down at work anymore.

•Enjoying my moments of freedom so much.

•Taking pleasure in little things and being eager to spend the entire month of December to do so.

•Listening ot my internal clock telling me to sleep a little later and go to bed a little later as well.

•Loving more (my husband, my daughters, my friends, my work, my hobbies, my projects, life).

•Taking good care of myself (for a change!)...
Found this while walking at lunch time, probably a piece of a princess costume. It's cute: pink, shiny, looks like a precious stone. I think I get the message: my daily walks (4km each time) are precious, they give me a healthier complexion and keep me «enlightened» :-) We can find small doses of encouragement everywhere in the nature, just keep your 5 sens alert.

And you, what have you discovered today?

13 Things I Smelled While Fastwalking

1. rain
2. crisp fresh autumn air
3. French fries from la Cantine Chez Jos
4. pine trees (which reminds me of camping when I was a child)
5. cedar (I live in cedar hedge wonderland, so...)
6. freshly mowed lawn (less frequent since a couple of weeks!)
7. tar (and that really stinks!)
8. old men's aftershave when I pass them (in the morning only)
9. pollution (trucks, cars)
10. kitchen smells (and that smells good!)
11. compost or garbage when I decide to fastwalk on Tuesday or Thursday morning
12. apples (and a few weeks later, when apples are rotting on the ground, some sour smell, almost like vinegar)
13. and worst of all... stinky skunks (panic button, I keep my eyes wide open, ready to escape, yes, I'm afraid of skunks. Very. Really. Totally. Scared. That's it.)

13 Things To Do, One Day...

1. Film one of my neighbor when he does crazy stuff (I have opportunities everyday)
2. Pretend to know someone in the subway, talk to her without letting her say she doesn't know me and leave as if we'd meet again
3. Travel to a quiet place, a small village, rent a house, preferably off season
4. Read non-stop, for a full day
5. When the phone rings and someone asks to talk to Raymond, say something more interesting than «You've got a wrong number», ideas anyone? )
6. Give the mailman a scare when he delivers my mail (he is never nice, even if I am, I say hi and he doesn't even respond, what a jerk...)
7. Organize un party with my girlfriends who love to dance. I'd put all the music I adore, we'd dance for hours and the day after I couldn't even walk, party!!!
8. Send surprize gifts (cards, flowers and others) without telling they're from me, with only a nice note.
9. Have my own craft place, a room just for me, with lots of natural light, a TV, a bed/couch to think, find ideas (and to take naps as well...), good speakers (loud music inspires me), lots of closets and drawers and a huge table.
10. Sing in public (Karaoke? With the Bend Your Knees Band?) one more time.
11. Talk to my parents (we'll see...)
12. Try drinking tea (I can't believe I wrote that, I NEVER drink anything hot...)
13. When I'll be REALLY mad, throw my printer through the window (I dream about it). To see it in pieces... :-D Oh, this list has potential!

Café Zira

I went to the restaurant tonight with my dear Alizée and her iPhone, the iPhone almost being human with all its gadgets!

So, night out in a place I particularly like: Café Zira in Saint-Hyacinthe. The food is simple AND original (my favorite thing is the Créole sandwich...), a cosy, nice place to eat. Even if it took me 20 minutes to find a parking space (no joke, downtown was full packed!), it was nothing, really.

It's also the place where Alizée had one of her dreams come true: eat chips with a fork: she found nachos soaking in the salsa, all soft and ready for «ze» fork. Of course, a picture was taken (yes, of course, with the iPhone previously mentioned) to capture this very emotional momen .:-) Alizée has extraordinary life goals like that (there are so many other crazy ones, she's really a funny young adult). It's inspiring me for my Friday list of «13»...

13 Things I'd Like in a Future Home (That I don't Have Right Now)

1. No close neighbours (so, no dog barking at butterflies, no «Barry» who likes his music too loud, no lawnmower while eating supper)
2. Large rooms
3. Good size closet space
4. Close to the bus, the train...
5. ... but in the country!
6. A room that would suit better my working needs
7. An «up-to-date» kitchen
8. A quiet street (veeeeeeery quiet)
9. A porch with a swing
10. A mud room
11. A particular style, a particular charm (a house with a little something unusual...)
12. A nice place to walk/jog/run nearby
13. A long clothesline! (Some day I'll tell you about my passion for clotheslines...)

And You, What Have You Made?

Our dear Hula talked about it not too long ago. I keep thinking about it. And I told my colleague Hélène I'd show her these two videos. Touching, inspiring, those things can give you wings.


I'm seriously thinking about doing something similar.
Soon.
Stay tuned...

13 Songs I Listen to When I Walk/Jog/Run

1. Drive My Soul / Lights
2. Disturbia / Rhianna
3. Gimme Some Lovin' / Steve Winwood w/Spencer Davis
4. Young Folks / Peter, Bjorn & John
5. Viva La Vida / Cold Play
6. A Sort of Homecoming / U2
7. Shadow of the Day / Linkin Park
8. Praan / Garry Schyman
9. Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood / Santa Esmeralda
10. Fall at Your Feet / Crowded House
11. Echo Beach / Martha and the Muffins
12. Come on Eileen / Dexy's Midnight Runners
13. The Boy with the Arab Strap / Belle and Sebastian

What We Ate the Last Two Weeks (Homemade!)

1. Veggie soup
2. Chicken pie
3. BBQ pork chops
4. Chicken lasagna
5. Stuffed rolls (usually eaten around Xmas time!)
6. Spaghetti sauce
7. Delicious meatloaf (really!)
8. Greek salad
9. Chicken fajitas
10. Apple pie
11. Summer cake
12. Carot cake
13. Pasta salad (with pesto & Feta)

Walking

Yes, I've started walking two weeks ago, everyday (almost). I power-walk and at times, I even find myself jogging. Am I getting in shape or what? Oh yeah! So I'm breating fresh air, it helps me concentrate when I work and I kind of feel I have muscles. Got one here. Another there, and some more here (they're easy to locate, they're the ones that hurt!)...

13 Little Pleasures...

1. Work flexible hours
2. Power-walking, with my iPod (I'm careful, don't worry...)
3. Eat fresh tomatoes and cucumbers (bought at the farmer's market)
4. Use the clothesline
5. Sun, sun, sun!
6. Cook (yes, yes, it's the truth, this week I did all the cooking and enjoyed it!)
7. Talk with Alizée when she comes back from cegep or work
8. Talk with Miranda when she comes back from school
9. Talk about our days with Claude when he comes back from work
10. Take public transit when I have to work in Montreal
11. Read... Even if I can't wait to finish this book I'm reading, it's a little «insipid»
12. Knowing there will be new episodes of my favorite TV shows soon
13. I'm almost done stripping my piano, a crazy job, but it's gonna be so nice!

Lunch With Sylvie

Working from home is fantastic but to avoid feeling isolated, going out once in a while is a must. So today I had lunch with my friend Sylvie wo also works from home. Lots of talking and laughing, delicious eclectic food, we will do it again soon. It was almost perfect, except maybe for the noise but the Brûlerie Mondor is located on a busy corner...

Fonts and Movies

To test your knowledge of movies through their fonts. Identify them by using one letter! Some are easy, others are... Well...

GOOD MORNING VIETNAM!

Can't sleep late anymore...

Matt Likes to Dance

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

A very simple idea, a cute result, touching even... Notice the weather when Matt dances in Montreal :-)

Cat Story

What a way to start the day... After 3 good hours of reading a book I didn't think I'd enjoyed (the last part got me though), I turn my computer on, visit the blogs I've included in my Google reader (couldn't live without that tool anymore) and find this:

Nothing better than a good laugh!

via Raspberry

Bored?

Got a couple of minutes to lose?
Enjoy :-)

Creacamp, Fall 2008 Edition

Note to self and friends: the next Creacamp is coming up soon...

You must now register on-line (minimal registration fee). It's worth the trip, to meet great women, to discuss about our creative projets and listen to those of others, to enrich your network and spend a fantastic afternoon with interesting people!

Justin

Here is baby Justin (6 days old photo), my step-daughter's son. He is so cute and calm. Feel the pride in my husband's eyes? (So that makes me a step-grandmother, right?)

Travel...

I love to travel. With my love only or along with the girls, I don't mind. We play tourists, we try to go where tourists don't go, we laugh and giggle, we take photos, loads of photos. We build our memories, our souvenirs, we enjoy being a family (or lovers, depending). When we travel, we live. And as Georgette in Amélie says it so nicely: «C'est beau la vie, hein?» (Isn't life beautiful?)

13 Short-term Projects

1. Blog a little more often
2. Transfer stuff from my old laptop to my new computer (yay!)
3. Sew a birthday gift for a friend who lives far away
4. Continue to work on my website (monRendez-vous.qc.ca), online August 1st!
5. Finish Mateo's quilt
6. Work on my postcards for the swap
7. Ride my bike
8. Buy The Lost Fingers CD
9. Read in my bed, in the morning (laziness, you are a good friend...)
10. Cook an onion tart (miam) and it it with pleasure
11. Be nice and loving to Claude (wishing he'll make me chocolate cupcakes, whoopie pies...)
12. Take care of my garden
13. Enjoy every moment of my long summer vacation...

13 Things to Do When It's Your Daughter's Prom

1. Wake up the star of the day and get ready to leave
2. Go with Alizée to the hairstylist to make sure she will not come back with a «poodle on the head» hairdo
3. Eat at the restaurant with her
4. Go with Alizée to the beautician to make sure she will not come back as Barbie Superstar
5. Go with Alizée to pre-prom at one of her friends for photos
6. Take loads of pictures (sharing will follow on flickr...)
7. Drive Alizée & friends for their prom entrance (theatrical concept...)
8. Take more pictures (sharing will follow on flickr...)
9. Go back home and wait for her phone call (around midnight?)
10. Go get Alizée & friends at the prom
11. Drive Alizée & friends to the party (after-prom)
12. Go back home and wait for her phone call (during the night? early morning?)
13. Go get Alizée (& friends?) after the party (it's probably Claude who will go, 'cause I'll be at Craftmafia tomorrow, from 11:00 to 18:00, 5036 St-Dominique. Welcome to you all :-)

13 Sweet Weekend Things

1. Sleep late in the morning
2. Go to bed veeeeeery late at night
3. Eat at odd hours
4. Have time to do the things I enjoy doing
5. Do nothing and not feeling guilty about it
6. Not thinking about work
7. Take out my sewing stuff (Craftmania is just around the corner!)
8. Read (in my bed, on the patio)
9. Tidy a little in my house
10. Spend time with hubby
11. Slow down
12. Go the movies (maybe...)
13. Go to the restaurant (surely...)

Sighs...

http://lesophie.blogspot.com/2008/06/bathroom-mirror.html

This is my new desktop background.
To remember what I really want in my life.
Soon.
Because time flies.
Too rapidly.
Because it is true.
That we must do what we love for a living.
That it is NEVER too late.
Still, why wait?
Voilà.

Yeah, She Did It Again!

My postcards from last summer...

Yesss, Andrea decided to organize another postcard swap. A must to welcome summer with all due respect. Like last year, the theme is: summer! I already planned my evening, tomorrow to find my concept (my favorite part of the process) with my favorite artistic partner and her lovely son, our official mascot for this year postcard swap :-)

Feeling tempted? Just write an email to Andrea so she knows you're interested and get ready to make around fifteen summer postcards. Andrea will send you a list of addresses, your new web friends (not even a joke, that's how I got to know Ani, Cathy, Nina, Emily... Which led me to the discovery of other really cool blogs!).

Can't tell you enough how great it is to receive something else besides bills and junk via my mailbox... It is so much fun that now, I make more postcards that I send to my friends, just to say hello, fun included, smile guaranteed!

13 Things I Want to Do Before I Turn 41, Update...

1. Go to Las Vegas (leaving very soon!)2. Learn how to knit mittens and/or a tuque (done a mitten with no thumb:-)
3. Make a quilt for Mateo (who was born a week ago) (almost finished, really)
4. Go on a romantic weekend in Orford (and it was soooo relaxing)
5. Participate in Emily's green week (yes ma'am)
6. Play the piano at least once a week (even more the last few weeks, I practise my duet with Miranda, the piano recital is this Sunday!)
7. Decorate the dining room for Claude's birthday (oops, bad timing, I'll do a better job next year, promise)
8. Plan our summer vacations (Vancouver + Seattle) ( not planned, but we're going to Seattle all right)
9. Finish the document I'm writing for work (I just sent the first copy to revision, hurray!)
10. Make progress in my project with Tanja (we are very busy with other important projects right now, surely later...)
11. Lose some weight (at least a little...) (postponed again...)
12. Continue to save money (we never know...) (so proud of myself)
13. Make a very important professional choice (yay!)

13 Things About My Day...

1. I found Amy Butler's fabrics at Effiloché on Plaza St-Hubert in Montreal.
2. Incredible! My three favorite authors have released a new book recently: Anna Gavalda, Alexandre Jardin and Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt (bought them, couldn't resist...).
3. The flowers in the trees smell so good (lilac and others).
4. I prepared something delicious for dinner, I do not cook usually: pasta with pil-pil shrimps.
5. I went for ice cream at our new spot, with Alizée.
6. Alizée came with me to do the grocery (thanks for your support, darling!).
7. All my chores are done (grocery, laundry, ironing, vacuum, dusting), I'm free for the long weekend :-)
8. I just put away my office stuff to make room for my sewing stuff.
9. I'm still waiting for some news from my dear friend Tanja (how are you sweetie?).
10. I watched Finding Neverland while I did the ironing ( I was a bit behind: approximately fifteen blouses and shirts to do...).
11. I installed the phone (couldn't hear anything with the old one) and it works fine.
12. Hubby called me from his daughter's brand new home.
13. I still can't believe I was interviewed for the radio (It's in French though, click on the Creacamp interview, bottom of the page).

We're Waiting For You!

Baby Mateo, we're waiting for you here! Your mom is eager to finally see your little face and she's not the only one. This week's Thursday Love is the blog she decided to create to talk about you, share her new life...

Sweetie, I sent you positive energy all day long, can't wait to have some news!

Art, Everywhere

Look around you, there is art here. Here and there as well. The beauty of all things natural make me go bananas more and more, I «force» myself to stop to admire what is surrounding me.

Time is luxury in my busy life and I am spending it doing important stuff. So everyday, I walk around my house to look at my flowers (daffodils, tulips and other perennials appearing here and there), my mature trees, I listen to the birds and admire the lawn that is getting greener everyday.

Discovered through Whip Up, these photos inspired me to do ephemeral art, in the nature. I'm thinking about it and I'll keep you posted!

Leaf circle

Squiggle

13 Happy Moments of My Day

What a wonderful day, don't you think? The sun, the cute little birds and... it's Friday! Hurray, hurray! I'm celebrating the beginning of the weekend -which is starting right now- by doing my list of «13», abandoned for a while (work-work, computer crash, spring cold, etc.).

1. My oldest daughter spent the day making a movie with four of her very nice friends (hi Jacinthe, Liliane, Mélissa et Marie-Hélène!). Working with non-stop laughters and giggles is the best!
2. I'm presenting tomorrow at Creacamp, I am not ready and I do not panic. Way to go! Not to worry, I'll still be ready on time...
3. Go out for lunch and meet a former colleague with whom I ate and chatted for a while (hi Monique, t'was very enjoyable!).
4. Phone call from a neighbor who wants to give me some perennials (hi Louise!).
5. Give my love a ride (hi Claude) to the garage, so he could get his car back.
6. Drive with the window down.
7. Work like a beast (so efficient today).
8. Dress like a girl who works from home (FULL relax).
9. Receive a moving letter (little «homework» to do).
10. Since it's Friday evening, we're going to the restaurant! (I know, I know, two restaurants today...)
11. Listen to great music while working. Right now, it's Yael Naim singing «Pachad».
12. Alizée got great news: she found a summer job!
13. (Keeping the best 'til last) It's weekend time! Party :-)

My Own Company

About 8-9 years ago, while I was teaching English as a second language, I had the idea of having my grade 6 students to get involved into a young entrepreneurs project.

They had to prepare a marketing plan, keep a budget, write a logbook, submit a final report and of course, produce some stuff to sell. It started quite small, but year after year, it became bigger... and bigger... Students from the previous years were talking about what they would do when they'd be in grade 6...

I don't teach anymore but «My Own Company» is still there. This year, my sweet Miranda and her friends sewed bags made of old pairs of jeans, cooked sweet snacks, decorated frames, made necklaces. Each company had their booth in the school gym. I like that there's still a little bit of myself and that my idea has aged well :-)

Stuck...

Well.

Tough week.

Very.

I miss blogging.

But I'm busy, busy, busy.

A busy bee.

And then, this afternoon, without any warning, my hard disk, well, died.

It's in the freezer (last attempt to save it).

My last backup?

April 4th.

I'm trying to figure out what I've lost.

Just before the drama, I'd printed my big document (30 pages), the one I've been working on extensively for a while.

It was my only copy.

In a way, I was lucky.

That's a start.

Ok now, bedtime.

Tomorrow's gonna be better.

Way better.

Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale. 

I am so zen right now...

Fringe Bazaar 2008

I will SO be there to sell my stuff!

A Song in My Head

Does it happen to you that you hear a song in your head and feel the need to dance? Or you hear a song (for real this time) and without realizing it, your body starts moving, grooving, bopping, jigging even? If yes, you will understand how this man feels.

After watching this video with my 12 year-old teenager, we transformed my home office into a dance floor and hammered the floor on my 16 year-old teenager's head (who was quiet in the basement). I LOVE dancing, I'd danced everyday. In fact, I think I dance everyday, but I don't always realize it, I often have a song in my head...

My Daughter's Prom

That's it, we're done. Done with the shopping for my daughter Alizée's prom. After discussing it, we decided to go easy on the amount to spend on the kit, the prom is an important rite of passage, but there's no need to spend like crazy. We are definitely on a saving mood these days, a good thing considering some of our future projects. And the mood has spread to the girls, which is great. My daughters know how to manage their money well and the idea of saving is fine as well. Thank God... I've had so much trouble dealing with money at one point in my life, I made it a priority in the education of my daughters and I can see it's going well. Marvelous...

Going back to the prom kit, another great thing: we found everything in less than an hour, probably a record here! First boutique, we found the dress (2 out of 5 suited her fine, she even had to make a choice) at a very reasonable price and just out of the boutique, we found the purse (60% off). We stopped by for shoes (we had selected a store where shoes are cheap), bought a shawl to cover her shoulders in case it gets colder in the evening (which either she or I will wear after the prom) and got very simple (and not expensive) jewels. All for less than the average cost of my daughter's friends dress. Good job!

When I finished high school, our prom was not a big deal, I didn't even go and I don't regret it. When I finished university I went. I was the only one without a date and the only one wearing pants.

For Alizée, it will be completely different: she spent 5 years in an all-girl school where her group of friends is made of 17 girls. She is involved in many varied activities, she adores her school, she will certainly cry when it will be the end. Until then, she enjoys every moment, she participates, she's involved again and again, she's creating imperishable souvenirs. With the help of technologies (and being herself a cinema and photography addict), she has gathered long hours of filming, hundreds of photos to remember the fun she had, her friends, the pleasure of being a teenager. Lucky girl...

13 Pairs of Shoes

I bought something yesterday: red shoes!

It inspired me for my Friday list of 13. So here are the shoes from my wardrobe. Some are okay, some had a long life. I'm not really a «shoe person»: my feet are so narrow, finding a pair that fits is tough...

1.

Here are my little red shoes. My Dorothy shoes. Weird thing, I usually wear size 8 and then, bang, I had to switch to 7 1/2. Are my feet shrinking? Even the sole is pretty!

2.

Very old shoes, not very feminine, I agree. Very comfortable though and Amélie Poulain wears an identical pair, with skirts. I don't know if I'll dare one day...

3.

My little ballerina shoes. Very, very comfortable even for long walks. As soon as the weather gets warmer (when socks won't be necessary), they become my indoor shoes.

4.

THE pair of high-heeled shoes. I'd love to wear high heels, something ultra feminine. Can't. With ultra narrow feet like mine, it is out of question, since I'm always a little (sometimes a lot too) loose in them... *Sigh*. So what about these shoes? Well, I've worn them 3 times max. They still hurt me (see the band-aids inside?)...

5.

My wardrobe's shame. Dirty old beach shoes, a bit disgusting that I'm keeping them anyway. Want to know why? For gardening, they're the best: they don't fear dirt, soil, mud and all... And when it gets too hot or when pebbles find a way between my toes, I just throw them in the air. Whippee!

6.
Black loafers. Nothing special, right? Well, they belong to my oldest daughter (who has taller feet), but I like them, they're comfy. A little too large, but still...
7.

My walking shoes! They've seen many sidewalks: Boston, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Paris, Montréal (many, many times)... Gotta go get new laces before going to Las Vegas in May!

8.
My «working» shoes, those I wear with my «serious» clothes!
9.

Well, sandals. Not nice, not really comfortable. Might be their last summer under my roof.

10.
My sneakers, I love them. Well laced, it's the ultimate comfort for me. They too have traveled quite a lot...
11.
Yes, yes, I still have Kickers! Shoes that remind me of my adolescence. Too large, but I'm used to them and since they are everything but high-heeled, I can manage.
12.
My indoor shoes when I wear socks. Can't wait to put them in the wardrobe for the summer!
13.

Bought these last summer. I smile a lot when I wear them, they make me feel special, funky (which I'm not, especially when it comes to clothes).

I Can Do It

Well, hey, oh! I can so do it, right? Thanks Noëlla my lovely mother-in-law whomI like so much and who showed me how to knit in circle. No laughing allowed, it is not a simple concept to get! Knit in circle with 5 needles going in all directions wanting to let go those nice little stitches, try this and then we'll talk about it... I know, I know, it's not that difficult once you know how to do it, but when you do not know, it's more like advanced trigonometry in a foreign language.

Let's talk about thumbs... Because at a certain point comes the thumb issue. That's where I am. Yes, Noëlla explained me last Sunday how to deal with the thumb, with a little drawing and all (and my father-in-law who found all that impossible shebang so funny). So here it is: you put 9 stitches on a pin, you cast 9 new ones and move on. Ok. Got it (????). I got it, but I don't really see it, in fact, I don't see it at all! And dear hubby who keeps on repeating me (he's such a darling) yes, you put 9 stitches (bla-bla-bla)...

I love knitting and like for sewing I don't like to use patterns, I need to experiment on my own to learn. So, tonight, in front of CSI (thank God there's something new on TV!) and then Eli Stone (funny, really), I'm getting my hands dirty into what we can call «taking care of a thumb when knitting a mitten». It's Aunt JJ* who would be delighted!

Ok, going back to my stuff. To be continued!

*Aunt JJ was our sitter when my sisters and I were little, she's the one who taught us how to knit, do embroidery (which I can't remember) and other indispensable things in life :-)