One would find it hard to believe...

That it's fall with colours like these,

but if you look for it you might catch a glimpse of it.

I walk along Dallas Road in Victoria and I really consider myself lucky to have access to such natural beauty on my daily morning walks.

How do you get some natural beauty in your everyday?

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This week I felt very single, or what one might call lonely. I really was yearning for some romance. I looked back on past relationships and remembered sweet moments shared with lovers... hearing whispered whimsical compliments in my ear, being taught naughty words in a foreign language, hand holding under tables, a long languorous tête-à-tête and love letters. I can't wait to write a love letter again or to be on the receiving end of one. In the meantime, these sentimental glimpses of hindsight will have to do.

Four things and completely grateful for:

My friend Ryan who's coming to visit me for my birthday.

My therapist. Gotta say. He gave me a good beating this week (not actually!) - drew a clear line between delusion and reality. Always needed!

My Sunday morning breakfasts. Pancakes. I like routine. This is one of mine. (See below.)

I'm thankful for routine. I honestly believe it's comforting and helpful in realizing ones potential.

Hope you're having a lovely weekend. Here are some links.

A crown of blossoms and a how-to.

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes! I think I'll try them out for an upcoming birthday.

I wish I were one of those people that really cared about my nails. This might make me change my mind.

This woman is my idol. So cool!

Doesn't this look like a nice teaser to a good girl's night out?

How much do you want to hang out in this?

Maybe I have the sense of humour of a five year old but this made me crack up.

Movies totally f-cked me up this way.

Sweet gentle reminders.

This post is bound to cheer anyone up.

Also, are you going out to watch HP7B? (Harry Potter?) What are you up to this weekend?

Images: Vierra Photographics via Style Me Pretty, unknown via this is glamorous, Moi, Six Fourteen Photography via Style Me Pretty.

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{Blackberries are the best}

{Got to sample all sorts of beer while visiting with friends here}

 

{Found some new-old jars that will imminently contain spices @ Value Village}

{Saying good-bye to ye ol' Mighty Opes was harder than I expected!}

I was so exhausted this week with all the travelling and seeing family, it was like I needed a vacation from the vacation! So I took it easy. Did laundry, ran errands, caught up on bills, etc, which was exhausting even if I was taken 'er easy. I am going to hit the ground running next week on the job hunt-front. I'd love to work with kids, so we'll see. 

Here are some things I came across and loved on the www this week:

I just want to live in these pictures.

How much do you wish you were besties with this gal and invited to this BBQ?

Even though I have a huge girl-crush on the designers, don't these look like your hangover clothes? The clothes you wear at home because they are so comfortable but you don't necessarily want anyone to see you in them?

Cute blog!

I'm intriqued... Avacado Smoothie. Ever tried it?

Love this look, from head to toe.

Oh yeah, and a PSA: Go see Bridesmaids with your girls. Very funny.

Have a great weekend y'all!

Image Credits: Me, Me, Me, Oprah Show via here

... and what a lovely long weekend it was II

So I went home this weekend. It was hard and exhausting mostly because going home to family, to me, means no rest and lots of distress... but it was nice to go to my old stomping grounds, eat my favorite foods and getting all caught up.

After 15 hours in transit I finally got into bed at 3:00 AM.

Did some personal admin I had to attend to and then indulged in an artery clogging lunch with my Dad and his girlfriend of a BLT and a poutine.

Then I went to visit my mother who just sold her house, a house I will really miss.

Which is a house with a gorgeous hearth...

... and an enormous wrought iron chandelier, made by a family friend.

... where I shared some precious moments with nieces and other kin.

Then I went to share some more precious moments with another niece at a family tradition: lobster dinner!

... or more appropriately called: my sister's birthday.

... which involved some slaving!

... and finally lots of nibbling.

Fit in some babysitting and some dress-up.

Then a long and exhausting journey home, with the necessary ferry ride.

I Love...

Traveling! I'm in an airport right now, that's how much I love traveling! Here are some places that I love to visit.

{The South}

{New Orleans}

I have gone one two road trips through 'The South'. First I went down the Atlantic coast all the way to Charleston and Savannah, which really are some of the most beautiful places I've ever had the privilege to visit. On another road trip I went a little more mainland through Kentucky, Tennesse, then down to NOLA and Mississippi. I drove alone, something I like to do, and then I would meet up with friends, friends of friends or strangers who later became friends. I love that about the South. I feel like everyone there is maybe the nicest person I've ever met. I also find they're all gifted with an old-school wisdom, with great one-liners that remind you of a traditional, older way of life. I will always love the South and dream of going back. 

{Texas}

I have family in Texas so I've been going often since I was a kid. It's always a bit of a surprise to be in the Big Red State, to see how differences in ideologies can change a way of life. It also reminds me how small our world is and how easily we stereotype. Always a good lesson to be learned.

{Italy}

Italy is my home away from home, having lived there for three years. I love both the South and the North equally and cherish so many fond memories exploring both. The friends I made in that era will always be some of my closest friends... I miss them so much! Also miss the food, the wine, the scenery and the people (even though they were GOLD at pushing my buttons).

{France}

There was a period where I was lucky enough to live in Aix-en-Provence. (I know, I'm a lucky duck!) It was such a momentous time, I really made a shift as a consumer. I was so broke and it was such an expensive place to live, I was forced to learn how to luxuriate in all the gloriousness that is France, on a very strict budget. I am now such a fan of markets, and I try to shop for fresh fruits and veggies every other day... but it's never quite the same, understandably. The French, I think, have the highest standards of quality when it comes to food. Oh, crème brulée, filet mignon à la bordelaise, and just a regular old baguette with cheese and meats really are just the way I want to live my life. Everyday. *sigh*

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{My Easter Sunday morning} 

 {Kale makes the yummiest chips!}

 {What a lovely ornamentation for a paved driveway.}

{The James Bay Tea Room gives me a weekly dose of Anglophilia}

Yesterday I went to an interview for a job that really would be a dream of a job for this stage in my life. I would learn a lot and the compensation is great and would meet a lot of interesting people. I've never wanted a job that's within my reach more in my life! I think that might have showed because I was a nervous wreck. I cringe when I think of the things I said and didn't say and for incessantly apologizing for my nerves (like every ten minutes). It was a nightmare on my end... I hope the interviewer didn't see it that way. I'll share the details of the job if I get it. So please, pray for me, cross your fingers, send me some positive energy, or whatever it is you could do... 

I'm saving my thoughts on the wedding for a Monday featurette. 

Now, for some weekend links:

Five things a French woman doesn't leave her house without.

This outfit is truly fantastic.

Never thought I'd see this on a Martha Stewart website.

Perfection in a dessert. It's possible, and this is it for me. Off to the store to get ingredients!

Have a wonderful weekend!

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So orginally, my thoughts for one two three four were that I would either list four things that tickle my fancy, four wishes or four things I am grateful for. So far, I've done minimal appreciating. So here are some things I am grateful for:

My health, for taking me this far with no major obstacles.

My friend Ian, for constantly reminding me that I am too hard on myself and that no one is perfect.

My friend Mari, for always putting a smile on my face and for not giving up on me and my neuroses.

Lastly, my Macbook, for providing me with endless hours of entertainment and knowledge.

{The rocky Victorian shore after sunrise this morning.}

Now for some weekend links:

Badass photo tour of Brisbane.

Another gorgeous dance video.
I'm really excited for this coffee table book to come out... Oh, the inspiration!
World's weirdest hotels.

My to-do for the weekend. YUM!

Have a marvelous weekend!

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 {I got a blood orange as a surprise this week in a bag of regular  navel oranges}

 {I took a long walk in a cemetery...}

 {...on the water. Nice place to be layed to rest for eternity, no?}

{For some reason I'm already a little nostalgic for fall, fairs, and candy apples.}

How was your week? Mine was... blah. It started off at a bit off a low ebb but I feel better after having done some yoga and re-evaluated what my goals for the spring and summer are. Most of the time when I do a little inventory of things I've achieved or failed miserably at, the list often continues to stay the same. (Lose weight. Do more yoga. Send birthday cards, on time. Turn off the TV.) However, this time I'm overlooking where I've come up short and am just going to focus on one goal. 

"Be kind to yourself."

Now that can be understood in a million ways but I'm just going to focus on policing my negative self-talk. We often tell ourselves strange and hurtful things, most of which are lies, in my experience. Mine are usually that I'm: not good enough, not smart enough, not pretty enough, not worthy. Can you imagine the self-abuse inflicted with that kind of monologue? I wish my brain came with a mute button, but it doesn't, so I need to learn to not be so hard on myself. I just want to be happy and this is a way I think it can be done...

What about you? Got any spring/summer goals?

Some weekend links:

Children's bedrooms from around the world.

Cutesy putesey little houses.

I so badly want to go to Iceland, even more so after these pictures. 

I want me some of these cowboy boots somethin' fierce.

What a great idea for office decor!
DIY clothing revamp.

Have a great weekend!

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These were taken earlier this week. True story. Being from Montreal, this is the shortest winter I've ever experienced and I just can't believe it. You might, because you may be lucky enough to hail from somewhere that doesn't endure long subzero winters, but this is new to me. I'm now going for longer walks and soaking up that vitamin D and taking the time to smell the roses or any other flora of the island. So, this is my it's-springtime-post. I hope you have a long spring filled with many great new opportunities and long walks. They sure are doing me some good, shaking off those heavy winter blues.

How much do you love these photos? They look like the happiest girls...

New blog crush. She writes really engagingly and it makes me want more!

The. Most. Beautiful. Editorial.

Totally agree. This movie is in fact a poem.

Yum: Easter Bonnet cookies.