13 Things I Like About My New Kitchen

1. I can finally display the dishes I like so much: bowls and miniatures. I'm using them all the time!2. Even if it's getting old, our stove doesn't look that odd in here.
3. Hurray for the stool we use to sit on and step on to reach the higher shelves.
4. Drawers, not only cupboards, great idea!
5. A little bubble gum curtain. Fun, colorful. With the turquoise on the walls, it's lively.
6. The open shelf over the wood countertop where I keep recipe books and my vintage cake stands.7. The metal border for the countertop. It gives the kitchen a little retro/dinner American look.
8. The countertop itself. Makes me think of my grand-mother's kitchen...9. Even with a very unconventional shape, the entrance of the kitchen is spacious, airy.
10. We managed to integrate the old wood countertop. It has scratches and all but I love it anyway. Hubby sanded it and put teak oil on it, very effective.11. My mother-in-law's glassware. Used only in special occasions by her, it is part of our daily dishes. I also like milkshake and sundae glasses a lot.
12. On top of the window where there is no curtain, we decided to add a decorative shelf. We use it to display blue glass bottles and vases.
13. The workspace. We used to have only the space on top of the dishwasher to cook. What a change!

Are You Happy?

Found here
Being happy can be so simple!

Corner View: Out the Car Window

Picture I took waiting for the ferry between Baie Ste-Catherine & Tadoussac, during my solo Road Trip going to Sept-Iles this summer. The view was breathtaking and it was only the beginning. I enjoyed it so much that I am planning another Road Trip next summer, this time probably with girlsfriends. Any volunteers?

Dear Lizzie...

My favorite part from the movie:
Fitzwilliam Darcy declaring his love to Elizabeth Bennet, the second time.
Sighs...

"You must know.
Surely you must know it was all for you.
You are too generous to trifle with me.
I believe you spoke with my aunt last night and it has taught me to hope as I had scarcely allowed myself before.
If your feelings are still what they were last April tell me so at once.
My affections and wishes have not changed, but one word from you will silence me forever.
If, however, your feelings have changed, I would have to tell you, you have bewitched me, body and soul and I love... I love... I love you.
I never wish to be parted from you from this day on."

Matthew Macfadyen is irresistible in that scene, don't you think?

Corner View: September

Summer is almost gone, September is at its peak. The apple trees branches are loaded with apples. The maple trees' leaves are changing colors. I am going to have a magnificent view very soon...

Julie & Julia

After seeing the movie Julie & Julia, big rush of ideas, lots of thoughts...

•I really have to cook more, I am missing somehting, I know. The sink and countertop are going to be installed September 22nd, it will help ;-)

•Great stories always start with a passion. Complications often follow, sometimes we feel a little discouraged to finally we achieve our goal. Must remember to be passionate, to feel the joy, throughout the journey. This way, whatever the result, at least we had fun!

•I too have a wonderful husband. Who thinks my ideas are great. Always remember that. (Easyyyyyy)

•I am a woman. My hormones sometimes drive me nuts. Typically feminine. Must learn to deal with that...

•Eating is pleasant. Sensual also. Cooking, eating are honourable actions.

•Working on perseverance is key.

•Never listen to your mother if she hinders you to become a better you. (I hope I'll never be Julie's mom with my daughters)

•Our daily dramas are tomorrow's funny moments.

Imagine

I found a very inspiring post on a blog: Mondo Beyondo. So inspiring in fact that the author has even developed an online class. But what is that, you're asking yourself, vaguely curious?

Well it stems from the principle that a dream, an aspiration, a wish, when voiced has more chances to become reality. And no, it's not that simple. Of course we all have dreams, but we are so used to control ourselves that our dreams, the real ones are buried so deep within our soul, we forgot about them, or we rationalized them so much, that they are not our dreams anymore.

Naturally, I found the class a little too late, it was already sold out, but I really want to register to the winter session. I dream a lot, I've got millions of ideas, I wish for so many things, I aspire to do so much that I sometimes have the feeling I am losing myself. I am all over the place and I get bored. So for now, I"ll continue to explore, I'll take notes, until January...

I'll keep you posted... ;-)

A Glimpse

The yukky work in the kitchen is almost over. Still missing a countertop (it's gonna be something!), a sink and the plain white (large tiles) backsplash. So little to do, compared to the mess we had to live in mid-August. I can't believe how beautiful it is. I regularly end up in there, just admiring everything, enjoying it.

It even inspires me to write fridge poetry.

This morning light in there was fabulous...

I...

I AM a positive person

I WANT my daughters to stay happy forever.

I HAVE an incredible husband

I KEEP learning, every day.

I WISH I COULD be more motivated to do yoga.

I HATE people who are grumpy.

I FEAR skunks, but hey that's something you might already know.

I HEAR babies giggling and I'm instantly happy.

I DON'T THINK I'll ever be a grouchy old lady.

I REGRET that I lost my time with people who were so not nice...

I LOVE sewing, listening to music, watching movies (or DVD series), reading, writing, surfing the Internet, traveling, dreaming...

I AM NOT able to work, work, work. I need a more serene life.

I DANCE like crazy, can't wait for a party, who's organizing one?

I SING in the car. And I'm loud baby, I'm loud!

I NEVER remember phone numbers, well, numbers in general.

I REALLY want to publish a book with my friend Tanja.

I CRY WHEN people are awful to me.

I AM NOT ALWAYS tidy (Yesssss, I cured myself from my obsession to organize, tidy everything, all the time).

I HATE when people scream and swear especially in front of children.

I AM CONFUSED ABOUT my left and my right. I've always been.

I NEED my family, my friends.

I SHOULD go buy Alias 3 this weekend, I can't wait to see what's happening to Sydney!

In One Word

Let's start the week with one word questions and answers:
(If you feel like answering them too, go ahead!)

Cell? iPhone
Love? always
Hair? ponytail
Mother? distance
Father? closer
Children? happiness
Thing? dreaming
Goal? create
Place? home
Hobby? reading
Afraid? skunks
Future? peace
Yesterday? pool
Personality? eclectic
Gift? books
Childhood? Sainte-Rosalie
Clothes? capri
TV? off
Pets? never
Computer? everyday
Mood? energized
Missing? nothing
Car? old
Makeup? light
Store? Anthropologie
Summer? fantastic
Color? pink
Laugh? often
Cry? rarely
Obsession? notebooks

13 Things I Learned About Myself This Summer

1. I can drive for long hours if there's good loud music playing
2. I like the St-Lawrence River more and more
3. I can't stand to stay under the sun for long
4. Weather doesn't affect me when I'm on vacation
5. My hair now curls naturally. Hormones I guess...
6. I can avoid spending when I decide to
7. I like retro stuff ("diner" style)
8. I prefer stripping off paint to painting (how bizarre)
9. I am becoming a zen person
10. I am a quiet person, but when it's party time, here I come!
11. I prefer going to the movies during the day (cheaper, less people)
12. Eating less meat is easier than I thought
13. I LOVE road trips. I'm planing another one next summer. Direction? Brooklyn!

My New Ancient Piano

If this piano could talk... With its notes in ivory and ebony, the lacy wood that allows us to see the hammers hit the strings, our piano tuner told us it had at least 100 years old. I am very happy I took the time to strip the coats of paint covering it and paint it again, in white. It looks astonishing don't you think?

Corner View: Unveiling, Showing your True Self

Tonight, for you ladies and gentlement, you're going to learn more about my true self. Here we go...I am a very positive person. I really try to see (as much as possible) the good side of things, I learn from my everyday little drama, trying to understand life's lessons. No, it is not always an easy thing, but it's my motto.

Sometimes I feel like I'm still 5 years old, I see little things and I'm almost speechless about them. I love to see things as if it was the first time I see them; we get used to our surroundings and I think it's a shame. Admire life's beauty, you'll see how good it feels.

I like so many various things, almost opposites, I guess you could say I'm eclectic. I love city life and country life. I love techny stuff and vintage stuff. I love travelling, discovering the world and stay at home to relax. I love the ocean and fields. I love classical and contemporary music. I love old movies and recent ones. I love, I love, I love!

Corner View: Places of Reflection

This week's Corner View: "Places of worship.. or places of reflection. A place you can go and just be." There are three spots at home where I like to be: my sofa (right there, in the corner),

my lounging chair on the patio

and my bed.

I get most of my (brilliant!) ideas in my bed either before falling asleep or in the morning, when I wake up. I like to take my time before getting out of bed. And I think about stuff. All kinds of stuff.

I enjoy sitting on the sofa, because it's kind of where people gather, not only to watch TV or movies but also to eat (Yeah, we eat in the living room. Often) and talk. We also bring the laptops over. You may think we are far from meditation and reflection in those cases, well we're not. I guess we're multitaskers ;-)

Finally, the patio. When the weather is nice, I like to go there to relax, read, enjoy the quietness (when the neighbours are quiet themselves), listen to the birds singing and think.
I don't really meditate, but I think a lot... A LOT!

Les Déglingos

Discovered a whole new menagerie at FAO Schwarz :
les Déglingos!Bigbos, the wolfe

So charming those softies made of simple yet original fabrics. There was the size "Pick me, pick me and keep me in your arms" Ronronos, the cat

and the other size "I'm as tall as you, 4-year-old".Nonos, the dog

Due to an unbelievable control of my finances (I'm very proud of myself), I didn't bring them all at home, but it was tough, let me tell you!

13 Things We Saw in New York City Last Weekend

1. Huge billboards
2. Tourists
3. The place where John Lennon had been killed
4. Strawberry Fields and the "Imagine" mosaic
5. Dripping wet umbrellas
6. Lots of counterfeits (purses, belts, perfumes, sunglasses, etc.)
7. A funny movie
8. A real flea market
9. Lots of people at the Apple store
10. Lots of toys at FAO Schwarz
11. Dinosaurs
12. Heinous people (we couldn't believe it)
13. Exorbitant prices (especially for food)

Corner View: Music!

This week for "Corner View", the theme is music. Being in New York last weekend, we met this nice saxophone player. In the backgroup, yep, NY billboards, there all over the place!

On Design Sponge!

YESSS! I'm on Design Sponge today, featuring my crazy staircase. Soooo happy...

Street Fashion

So, no, no new photo this week, but this one is so perfect. Imagine, New York, in the summer time, a seamstress on the street doing crazy fashion interventions, could it be more plus "street fashion" than that? Exactly what I thought!

Beds

I know, it is strange, pictures of beds. But I really like beds, I do! A bed, is where you dream, where you start your days, where you think. In my case, it is the place I enjoy reading the most. It is also where I find my ideas, my concepts, seriously ;-)

My bed,

Alizée's,

and Miranda's.

Sweet dreams!

Corner View: Out Your Back Door or Window

There's a group of bloggers (worldwide, of course) who put corner view pictures according to different weekly themes. I am late, and we're supposed to put the picture on our blog on Wednesdays but I've behaved too well for too long in my life, I deserve a little craziness (I am soooo wild, almost out of control ;-)

So this week, the theme is "out your back door or window". I didn't actually take a picture, but I had one that I took a couple of years ago. Yeah, I'm such a cheater. It is still a picture of my backyard, though, so not too naughty girl in the end.Next week's theme "street fashion". "Ze" question: will I go out to take a picture or will I still misbehave, be lazy and only go through my photo archives? Can you bear all that suspense? I live a wild life, filled with unbelievable, unexepected intrigues don't you think? ;-)

13 Sweet Things

1. Having a new toy ;-)
2. Wearing short sleeves even outside
3. Taking the time
4. Getting to know new people, great people!
5. Laughing so much with Mimi, in my bed (about the fish in her science class...)
6. Eating fresh ripe green grapes
7. Reading for a long time, in bed of course
8. Having wonderful visitors this weekend
9. Texting Alizée (with my new toy!)
10. Living in a peaceful house where passion/love is our motto
11. Be inspired
12. Receiving birthday cards by snail mail
13. Having projects that eventually materialize

And you? What are your sweet things?

Community Life

I wish my community was friendlier but it is not. I try to smile to people as I do my powerwalk, but not many reply. I meet people I "know" (but can't remember from where) and we never acknowledge one another. Maybe it's just me, maybe it's the typical kind of relationship we have around here. I wish I'd be living in a friendlier community. Not that I don't make efforts to help changing it; I'm volunteering today, tomorrow and Saturday. There's a huge festival welcoming high school students who are artists from all over Quebec. Let's see if my community is ready for a friendly challenge ;-)

Prezi, My New Love

A "Twitter" friend mentionned Prezi at the beginning of the week. Won-der-ful! Enough of the boring Powerpoint, hello Prezi.
It took me a while to get used to the tools. Forget the traditional menus, this is how it looks:
I can't wait to test my presentation tomorrow during a workshop where I'll talk about digital natives, along with other stuff. At home, everyone finds it really sharp, yessss.

By the way, on Twitter, I am @dominiquepl

13 AMAZING Things that Happened to Me Today ;-)

1. When I walk, I make an effort to smile to people. 'Cause around here, people don't even look at each other when they meet. I live in a peculiar little town.
2. Mimi filled the big blackboard with words starting with the letter B. Don't ask me why "B". Looks nice.
3. Have new Facebook friends. Have you seen this? Funny.
4. Ali is almost done filming her documentary (Two girls getting ready for a night downtown). Can't wait to see this. Seriously.
5. Claude only brought a wine bottle from his meeting. Since he usually wins digital cameras, laptops, trips, we're kind of disappointed ;-)
6. Threw my neighbour's cigar's tops back on his yard (what is this idea to throw them over the hedge, are you 10 or what?) Inhale, exhale, life is made of 1001 oddities, I might as well welcome them with calm, serenity even.
7. Received interesting feedback from a colleague. Waiting for feedback (that isn't coming) from a school principal.
8. Looking for an original ice-breaker for a group of 16 people. Nothing's coming. Strange. Me, the idea machine. Need lots of fresh air. Tomorrow.
9. Viewed a very interesting conference (in French) on the future of traditional media.
10. Been retwitted by someone "important".
11. Ate calmari at the restaurant. They were not that fresh I guess. Not telling you the rest of the story.
12. Decided I have to go see André Sauvé's show (French comedian).
13. Wonder what will happen to Sookie... Crazy stuff, for sure.

What about you? Anything AMAZING happened to you today?

Funny ecards

ecards that are SO not politically correct, enjoy!

Away We Go

I want to go see this movie badly!

13 Chick Flicks I Enjoy Watching (Over and Over)

1. Love Actually ( Seen it soooo many times, LOVE it)
2. Pride and Prejudice (The dresses, the houses...)
3. About a Boy (A lesson of life given by a boy who's not having that much fun and another one who thinks he is)
4. Hope Floats (Because of the house, so grand)
5. Hope Springs (For the craziness)
6. When a Man Loves a Woman (Tissues required)
7. Sense and Sensibility (Alan Rickman is so "class")
8. Finding Neverland (Because we all have a child who doesn't want to grow up inside of us)
9. Once (Different, the music is to die for)
10. Shall We Dance (A nice story about enjoying life)
11. Sweet Home Alabama (Can't get away from love)
12. Amelie (Colorful, lively, Paris, yeah)
13. The Notebook (Again, tissues...)

New Math

Love this website!

13 Smooth Songs I Listen to While Working (X2!)

1. Fall at Your Feet (Crowded House)
2. Drive My Soul (Lights)
3. Goodnight and Go (Imogen Heap)
4. The Day Before the Day (Dido)
5. Death and All His Friends (Coldplay)
6. Anne Niverre (Meb)
7. Expectations (Belle and Sebastian)
8. Black Burning Heart (Keane)
9. Fondu au noir (Coeur de pirate)
10. The Call (Regina Spektor)
11. Moment of Surrender (U2)
12. The Golden Floor (Snow Patrol)
13. My Biggest Mistake (David Usher)

Can't stop! Let's go for another round of 13...

14. Re: Stacks (Bon Iver)
15. The Show (Lenka)
16. Toutes les chances (Mara Tremblay)
17. The Turnpike Down (The Lemonheads)
18. Your Rainy Days (Meb)
19. When It Hurts (David Usher)
20. Young Folks (Peter Bjorn and John)
21. Hide and Seek (Imogen Heap)
22. This is Your Life (The Killers)
23. Pourquoi (Marie-Pierre Arthur)
24. Dreams on Fire (Slumdog Millionaire)
25. Hallelujah (Rufus Wainwright)
26. The Hill (Markéta Irglová)

Being Responsible

It's not that I want to promote this product, but you have got to admit that this TV ad is really good.
(just don't watch the last seconds ;-)

A New Project!

Selfportrait by Tanja

Had lunch with my dear friend Tanja today. Great discussions as usual, but I miss working with her and after much talking we decided to work on something special very soon. This is so exciting!!! Can't tell more about it, it still in its draft form but it's my Thursday Love, working with someone I appreciate very much. And my Bella Tanja is an exceptionnal human being. All those who have met her will tell you the same thing about her...

What Are You Eating This Week?

This week, while surfing on the Internet, I found this presentation of families from different countries with a display of what they eat in a week.

Interesting, touching. Makes me think, especially since it's the first week of the 5/30 Health Challenge...

Bon appétit everyone!

Bon Iver

Just fell for his music...

13 Blogs to Visit

1. an angel at my table (okay, I know it's written in Swedish or something but the photos are so beautiful)
2. colourful drops of everything (my best friend Tanja's blog)
3. decor8 (designer, author, living between Boston and Germany)
4. Hulaseventy (Andrea, a wonderful source of simple inspiration)
5. kennedy & friends (a Brazilian crafter sharing her time between her family, sewing and science studies)
6. L'off mère indigne (a not so typical mother from Québec, in French)
7. Ma vie est tout à fait fascinante (a funny Parisian illustrator, in French)
8. Mitaine écarlate (unbelievable recipes, really, in French)
9. Motherhood is Not for Whimps (a Washington DC mother, very funny)
10. november moon (an incredible artist )
11. Petit précis de Grumeautique (a French illustrator sharing her adventures with her little one)
12. scrumdillydilly (a funny & wild L.A. artist!)
13.Portabellopixie (a designer who makes won-der-ful girly fabrics)

(Part 2 next week, I like so many more!)

Little Treasures

There are so many things I like in this bookcase: my notebooks, my inspiring books, my old movie tickets (another thing I collect), my artists' cards, postcards I plan on putting on my inspiration board one day, rubber stamps, markers, my just "in case" chocolate.

My dear little treasures!

An Ad...

Well done!

via Swissmiss

13 Reasons Why I Can't Wait for Hubby to Come Back Home

1. He's been away for two weeks (the longest time we've ever been away from each other in almost eight years)
2. We need a cook in here!!!
3. We need a man in here!!!
4. "The bed's too big without you"... And I'm freezing.
5. Can't wait to hear more about your trip in Africa.
6. I need help with my taxes.
7. I need support for that big move I have to make this weekend.
8. Evenings are boring.
9. Mornings are too quiet.
10. I really prefer when he drives the car.
11. Running errands on my own? Pff, not that fun. At all.
12. I have so many things to tell him!
13. #*$Bf9˜ı±•DH&#*r (that's our code, only he can read it ;-)

Nice Pictures

Found on the web this site so easy to use when you feel like having fun with your pictures or when you need to fix a few of them and that Photoshop is not an option. An example?

Before:

After:

Takes only a few seconds... Enjoy!