My Return to Blogging is Imminent!!

Between getting the house up to par, vacationing, returning to work and just generally living it up, I haven't been able to find the time to blog as often as I'd like. My goal for October is to return to some semblance of regular bloggy-existence. I have so many pictures to share, not to mention recipes and fun ideas...We will be together again soon, I promise!

Updates!

I apologize for my extended hiatus, but I cannot promise I'll be back to posting regularly any time soon. I have been insanely busy over the past few months, and I must say, March has been quite rewarding in terms of career gains...To reference my January goals:

Professional Goals:

~ Get FSL certification
~ Apply to TDSB: Undecided about this goal in general
~ Get a French teaching job
~ File my pay-scale paperwork: Almost there! This week at the latest.
~ Build my teaching portfolio

Essentially, I have made some major gains in the career field over the past few months, and I am proud to say that I am a gainfully employed teacher (for those of you not aware of the situation for teachers in Southern Ontario, this is a MAJOR cause for celebration!) I am teaching French and Grade 1 and 3 science and social studies in a school just east of Toronto. While I'm not guaranteed work in September, it is a lot more likely that I'll get something now that my foot is in the door.

Wedding plans are moving full steam ahead. I have some pics to post in the next few days. All the save-the-dates have been sent, 1/2 the favours have been packaged, and I am going to be getting a head start on the menus and the programs over the next few weeks...Just 100 days to go.

I'll update more regularly now that my life is a little more on-track. Big changes take a while for me to adjust to...

Weekend Recap

Wow! It seems as the weeks get closer to Christmas, the days go by faster and faster! This weekend flew by, but it was packed full of fun! On Friday we went to our friend's housewarming party...met lots of nice people and, although they're just getting set up, I can tell the place is going to look AMAZING!

On Saturday, I spent the day making some stockings for Steve and I. I used a French toile de joie pattern, and I think they turned out quite well.


I'm thinking about embroidering our names on them in cream on the cuff, but I haven't decided for sure yet.

On Sunday we had the in-laws for dinner, so we mostly spent the day cleaning...you know how it is...Thanks to the Smitten Kitchen and The Martha (of course) I made quite a delicious dinner, if I do say so myself. I HIGHLY recommend all of these recipes. The roast recipe is one that I use over and over, because it's so darn delish...and the brussels sprouts recipe is my new favourite veggie recipe!

Sunday Night Dinner Menu

Roast Beef with Caramelized Shallots

Photo from Martha Stewart

Roasted Fingerling Potatoes with Seasoned Salt

Photo from Martha Stewart

Balsamic Braised Brussels with Panetta

Photo from Smitten Kitchen

Vanilla Roasted Pears

Photo from the Smitten Kitchen

Finally, an annual tradition to top the weekend off...watching Muppet Christmas Carol with hot apple cider and popcorn...not the same without my sister or my Kelly, though my dogs were a close second.



ps...I KNOW that red tray has to go...and I'm working on it...the Fiance likes the random red...I am sure some might think it's sooooo 2007, but I am still in love with this Oscar de la Renta Chevron tray:



but you know I'll have to DIY...it's not sane to spend $300 on a tray. I'm thinking some wallpaper should give the same graphic effect. We'll see.

My Favourite Things

Yipee! It's snowing today!!!
I have to say that winter is one of my favourite seasons. It's cold, yes, but it offers so many more opportunities for introspection and a slower pace of life than summer or spring. Before you write me off as certifiable, allow me to explain myself...

There is nothing better than cozying up by the fire with a good book on a blizzardy afternoon with some hot apple cider...

Photo courtesy of adrenalinecrush

I love the satisfying "crunch" of fresh, untrodden snow underfoot. This is best experienced during an invigorating winter walk at Balls Falls, or really anywhere in my Niagara hometown, where you can experience winter beauty in its purest form...

This is a picture of the lower falls at Balls Falls Conservation Area. Every year they freeze in place...it looks absolutely breathtaking!
Photo courtesy of Parente Photo Arts

I love the exhilarating feeling of whipping down the face of a steep hill piled high with snow drifts on a plastic disk. I love seeing rosy cheeks partially hidden behind thick, wooly scarves and feeling the icy winter air going into my lungs like mint, and coming out like smoke. Tobogganing is a must-do winter activity for me...even at 26...


Photo courtesy of Ferntree

There is something about the comforting foods of winter that warms through to the soul. I adore all the foods of winter, the soups, the stews, the roasted root vegetables...Not to mention the winter beverages...Hot Toddy with Apple Cider, anyone?
Photo courtesy of The Garden of Eating

Shopping can be a little trying admittedly, over the winter season. The crowds of rushed, rude people and the dreaded parking lots can leave even the most dedicated shopper turned off...But the prettily decorated shop windows make it VERY easy to do a little window shopping!




Photos courtesy of The Cherry Blossom Girl


So don't be afraid of a little chill in the air! Grab your sweetie or your best friend and take a winter stroll together. Do some exploring...Who knows what sort of beauty you'll encounter?


Photo Courtesy of Wino Fred

Fish Babies...

As promised, I am posting some pictures of the babies that my crazy little Spotted Molly had last week. I noticed she was becoming quite plump, but I thought I was just over-feeding her. Of course it crossed my mind that she MAY, potentially be pregnant...but, fish lay eggs right? Wrong. Not these fish. Apparently Spotted Mollies breed like rabbits, and have live births to boot...but unlike rabbits, they usually eat their young...or do rabbits do this too?

There were probably thirty little babies, and they are tiny and transparent. It doesn't appear that their mother has successfully eaten very many of them either, because they tend to hide in among the pebbles on the bottom of the tank with the catfish, who would rather eat scum than them (smart, right?)

The proud mama...Her girlish figure has returned to her.


Babies...






I honestly have no idea what I am going to do with all these fish...we only have a ten gallon tank, which can hold 5-6 Mollies comfortably. Anyone want a fish?

Vendredi ou la Vie Sauvage? Tous les Deux!

Warning: Gratuitous dog photography to follow...

So, today I kindly gave myself the day off, and spent it catching up on all the things I've been letting slide. This included washing my floors, and hanging out with the furbaby.

For many, Toronto calls to mind a monolithic concrete jungle with little green space, but this is simply not the case. Right beside my apartment is a veritable forest over 125 years old! Sherwood Park serves as a green respite for Yonge and Eglinton-ites, but it is also an off-leash park, which really appeals to my city-dog. We try to get over to the park at least once a week...understandably more often in the summertime, and less so in winter...It's a great opportunity for Loki to run free, and to socialize with other dogs which helps to teach him his place in the pecking-order of life...God knows we let him forget all too often...bad over-indulgent owners!

It's such a beautiful slice of the city that it's easy to forget I am mere feet from bustling Yonge St.

Sitting nicely, waiting to be set free...


No longer able to contain himself, he takes off at warp nine...


Altogether lovely to have such a perfect picnic spot steps from home <3


It really was a quintessential autumn morning...









We're working on developing patients...


So dressed up for the occassion...


As if to remind us that we, in fact, were still in the big city, CP24 and City TV newscasters were everywhere, as were volunteer search teams and police officers. Apparently there was a body-search going on in the forest...I guess you can never really have it all.

As an aside, my prayers are going out to young Mariam's family, please send yours as well.

The Pathway to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions...

I often liken myself to Alice in Wonderland, in that "I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it." Anyone who knows me knows that organizational skills have never been my forte, but not for lack of trying. I consistently design new tools and devise new plans in the hopes of becoming a veritable Helen Buttigieg.

I have decided that, in an effort to become more consistent with my meal planning (a huuuuge budget helper) I will be posting my dinner menus for the week here along with links to the recipes. If you like them, feel free to use them...I'll do the legwork for you...and since I'm also insane about calorie consumption these days, you can rest assured they'll be clean and healthy. To further assist you, I have included a downloadable grocery list of my own creation. I have see many online (some completely unusable) but none as simple and straightforward as mine. I sometimes think I should try to make it more attractive one of these days, but why waste coloured ink on something you normally scribble down on the back of a used envelope, right?

Grocery List

I Love Post Secret!

Usually, that is. This website allows people to send in their secrets anonymously, you know, to "get them off their chests." This site usually makes me laugh hysterically, with gems such as:



or



but when I saw this "secret," I actually cried. I am glad I found it, because I would totally have left the room before I saw this:



I know, heavy right?

On a happier note, my cousin is coming for a weekend o'fun, and we are thisclose to booking our March Break Ireland trip. That reminds me, I should post about Chi-Town...maybe later.

Don't hate me because I'm colder than you.

I will not be the first to announce that I am not at all offended by this billboard...nor are any of the other "Torontonians" with whom I generally associate. We don't even care. Perhaps that's the whole problem...

While I personally don't feel any animosity towards Western Canadians, I do sense the whole "Vancouver vs Toronto" cage match that is constantly raging in their minds. I don't think it's such an issue here. It's not that we're "cold" it's that we just don't feel the rivalry. We know our city is the best in Canada, and that's all there is to it.

I could go on and on about this topic, but I am simply too busy (not to mention important) to waste any more time on it...But I will say this...it doesn't say Torontonians are "cold," it simply says the beer is "colder." Perhaps it's all just a misunderstanding.

Now back to drinking my warm Coors Light.

Getting back into the swing of things...

I once read a cheesy quote that was very inspirational to me (I am a total sucker for these types of things)...I think it was on a journal at Chapters or something. Basically the quote said something like: "Life isn't about finding yourself, it's about CREATING yourself." As a self-professed perfectionist (the kind that does nothing if she can't do it perfectly) I like this quote because it helps me to remember that even small steps are better than inertia. At this point in my life, I am trying to establish my career, maintain strong relationships, and determine my place in the world. I have decided I will begin to create four monthly goals to motivate myself...The goals will focus on the following aspects of my life: Intellectual, Physical, Spiritual, and Interpersonal.

Goals for May

Intellectual: Finish John Steinbeck's "East of Eden"



Physical: Run outdoors 3 mornings a week (5km)



Spiritual: Set up a meditation area in my bedroom and use it every morning for five minutes.



Interpersonal: Lunch/Brunch with my ladies at least once this month.



The prospect of getting started on these goals has me super-excited. I think I should reward myself...with a nice glass of red vino (for the health properties, of course!)

Happy Belated Earth Day!

I have certainly not been posting with the regularity that I had initially promised, and for that I am truly sorry. I am working as a supply teacher during the day, and "directing the education" at Oxford in the evenings....I get home at 9:00pm (and leave at 7:00am) and upon dealing with children all day (they are lovely though, don't get me wrong!) I just want to SLEEP!

As we know, yesterday was Earth Day. I chose to celebrate by taking a litterless lunch to work (as I always do anyway, really), and having a meat-free day. Earth day is certainly all about reusing, recycling and cleaning up the earth in general, but there is one "R" we North Americans seem to forget: REDUCE. To illustrate this point, I will direct you to almost any design magazine these days where you'll inevitably find some article about an "Eco-Mansion." That term, in my opinion, is an oxymoron. The whole concept of living ecologically means downsizing, reusing what you already have or buying used. As a result of my new-found anagnorisis, I will be henceforth partaking of a "buy nothing" day once weekly. When I see how this goes, I may even increase it to two days...or four!

Anyways, to finish up, here is a cuuuute video of my baby dog, Loki.


A demain!

The Sound of Music: The Hills, Unfortunately, Were Not Alive...

Ok, so...After hearing nothing but RAVE reviews from the media, friends, etc about the Mirvish production of the Sound of Music, I decided to drop the $175 it costs for the "cheap seats."

As S and I sat waiting for the production to begin, (eating our chocolate covered almonds and drinking our beverages *in the theatre,* which one can apparently do now) I decided to peruse the program. As I began to read the "biographies" of many of the players, I noted that the preamble "...is thrilled to be performing in his/her first major production" was attached to nearly all of the major roles. I was not necessarily phased by the fact that none of the cast had much experience, but admittedly it is a little strange to be reading about the summer music and drama camp in New York attended by a certain cast member, and that Maria basically won her role American Idol-style, as though these are valid forms of experience.

As the play started, my fears were allayed by the set. It was absolutely stunning...as were the special effects. The mountains were portrayed perfectly, and the set crew did a formidable job of making it seem as though the characters were actually in Austria (aside from the British Accents, but that's entirely another beef I have with the art of drama...and it has nothing to do with the set). Aside from a small technical mishap, in which one of the backdrops came down on top of some props and got jammed, the set was definitely the pearl in this production.

In general, I was NOT impressed with the vocal/acting talent of any particular member of the cast (and let's face it, when you're paying for top-notch, you expect at least top-notch). The chemistry between Captain Von Trapp and Maria was non-existent, to the point I was confused by all the talk of "what had been building between them for a very long time." Most of the main characters delivered flat, almost boring performances, except for Maria, who was just trying too hard. The exception to this unfortunate rule was the Mother Abbess, who's powerful rendition of "Climb Every Mountain" was the musical climax of the show.

Overall, this performance felt more like a highschool production than a professional one (save for the set)...and I would have been more than happy to pay $20 a ticket to see it.
My verdict: Save your money and watch the movie...Julie Andrews is the ONLY Maria in my heart.

Sirsasana...Headstand, that is!

"Sirsasana" (pronounced Shirsh-asana) is the Sanskrit name of the yoga asana (or pose) known as "Headstand." In Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga it is generally done in the closing series of asanas, and it's regarded as one of the most challenging poses for yogis...and I did it!

I have generally had to stick with the less-challenging sarvangasana (shoulderstand), however my new yoga teacher is AMAZING at describing how you should feel in a pose. I was hovering in dolphin pose when he explained that to invert, all you need to do is press into your shoulders and contract your abdominal muscles. I did as instructed, and my legs literally floated off the floor behind me. It was amazing!

Here's where I was (shoulderstand...not me in the pic though)



Here's where I am now (also not me)



Sometimes I think I should post my own yoga pics, but at the same time, I feel like that's just asking for trouble...

On another entirely less zen note, my building was evacuated at 1:30am yesterday. I suppose it wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't been watching Reba and waiting for a commercial break to use il bagno...if you know what I mean. I wound up outside in my pajamas, doing the proverbial pee-pee dance in front of every single resident in my building. There was no fire, though (I know, shocking!). It was apparently just a burst pipe, which set off the fire alarm every ten minutes for three hours thereafter. Then every time the alarm went off, the firemen felt compelled to announce through the speaker system that there was *still* no fire...like-a-no-duh!
All I have to say is, good thing I don't work until 11:30am, because when S got up at 6:50am, he was right delirious...poor guy!

Starting 2009 Off on the Right Foot

Well, tomorrow starts the first official week of 2009 (in my mind at least). We had a lovely NYE at our friend Moe's house in the west end...although I forgot my camera...I can prove we had a good time, though, with this picture:



On a completely unrelated note, the gorgeous couch that my S is passed out on in pain is the one we had made for us before we moved...Good thing those arms are so low...they make nice pillows.

I've decided that the first book I'll be reading in 2009 will be "The Ash Garden" by Dennis Bock...I've heard mixed reviews, but you know I'll post my thoughts when I'm done.


In fact, I think I'll get a little proactive and start tonight while enjoying some tea:

Tomorrow starts with a Bikram Yoga class at my new club...I'm also going to start boxing this week.I have so many projects and plans for 2009, I can't WAIT to get started! I'll keep you posted here...so check back regularly!