Intentional Gratefulness v. 10

I read a lovely post recently by Rebecca of From Roses that called to mind feeling grateful, particularly finding joy in the small moments of the everyday.  Her words (and examples) really resonated with me.  Sometimes the smallest, most seemingly insignificant things can be beautiful bits to both enjoy and feel thankful for, and so with that in mind,  I'm sharing a few of the small yet joyful happenings that I've felt grateful for this past week. 
 - Sniffing the intoxicatingly delicious aroma of farm fresh strawberries at the local general store   (I bought and subsquently ate them = yum)
- Driving home through sun-showers and spotting the absolutely glorious double rainbow that accompanied them
- Stopping to enjoy stunning sunsets (see above!) over the water - I never tire of these
- Picnic lunch(es) in the park with colleagues
- Watching my humble herb garden begin to flourish on my windowsill, and harvesting the spoils
- Homemade jam (Thanks Rosie!) on a bakery-fresh roll = scrumptious
- Feeling the wind on my face while running on the trails
- The smell of salt water
- Opening my curtains to a sunshiny morning when it's been rainy for ages. 
- Spotting a piece of seaglass during shoreline strolls to add to my growing collection
- Watching my youngest niece quite literally laugh until she fell over - cuteness plus!!!

What are you thankful for lately? Follow

GRTTWaK Charlottetown

Photo via GRTTWaK    I have been an avid listener of the Grown-ups Read Things They Wrote as Kids (GRTTWaK) podcast for quite a while. I often listen and chuckle along to the half-hour-ish episodes while getting ready for work in the morning, a practice which never fails to help me start the day off in a great mood.  The episodes are recorded at live events across the country, and I was dreaming of the day that a Charlottetown date would be announced.      When such a date WAS finally announced, I made my way to my parents' basement, digging eagerly through boxes of childhood keepsakes when I stumbled upon the most hilarious, perfect story ever, that I knew would be a total hit at the event.     But.     I turned over the sheet of paper and saw, written in Mom's handwriting - "Rosalyn's Story, 1992".  Needless to say, I was devastated. Nothing I'd found of my own, save a very visuals-heavy picture book I'd created at age five (that didn't lend itself to being read in front of a crowd) seemed right. So I was on a mission to encourage my reluctant sister to read her short fiction, "The Foal" that had my parents and I laughing so hard upon our initial reaidng of it as to have tears streaming down our faces.      Being an absolutely wonderful sport, Rosie agreed to read the story, and so we submitted an application. I won't put the quote I used to describe the story here, as I feel it would be too much of a spoiler. All I will say, is that Rosalyn unknowingly created a whole new genre of children's fiction, which Dan alludes to following her performance.  She told me beforehand that I'd better act as her plant in the audience, and laugh at appropriate spots, in case no one else did, but she needn't have worried, because barely two lines in, the surprised and amused audience chimed right in, enjoying her story as much as I did.

If you'd like to have a listen to her piece, written when she was just ten years old, you can check out the podcast episode below (and you'll also get the treat of hearing several other readings that were among my favourites for the night).  Rosalyn is last, at around the 24-25 minute mark.       So much thanks to Dan and Jenna - a lovely fellow former Stylelist Canada (RIP) alum that I got to meet in person! - for coming up with this genius podcast and for organizing the most enjoyable, hilarious and touching event I've been to in ages.  Come back to PEI soon!! 

Volunteering is Caring - #GGCaring

It’s amazing how one thing, one person, or a team of people can have such an immense and lasting impact on your life.  For me, that thing happens to be volunteering.  It’s more than a way to get involved, to get to know my community or to connect with others. It’s a way to help, it’s a way to give back when I’ve got so much, and it’s enriched my life in so many ways – more than I can count.  That’s why I am so delighted to share more about my volunteer experience, as well as the Governor General's Caring Canadian Award. This truly special award recognizes the valuable contributions of caring volunteers who accomplish so much yet ask for so little in return. 

As for me, I’ve been involved in volunteering in a wide variety of areas, from festivals and events to youth programs and not-for-profits. That said, the program that I’ve been part of the longest (and you may remember me mentioning before) is my experience with Forum for Young Canadians.  Forum is a non-partisan program that allows high school age students from all corners of Canada to come to Ottawa and engage with Canadian politics and public affairs.  I was initially a participant in Grade 12 and I had such an incredible time. I was so inspired by getting an insider’s view of how things work in our nation’s capital as well as by engaging with people my own age on issues important to us and to Canada. The program left a lasting impression – I was determined to share that experience with others 

I first came back as part of the logistics team in 2005, helping out with all of the behind-the-scenes action that makes the program run – from organizing room set-up, escorting students on visits to Parliament Hill, the Supreme Court, and Rideau Hall, to photographing the various sessions, to training Polling Clerks and Deputy Returning Officers in our mock election, to acting as master of ceremonies for talent night, to helping to organize and run a formal dinner with program sponsors and Members of Parliament at the Chateau Laurier, and so much more.  Through it all, I've worked with many teams of absolutely phenomenal volunteers.

One thing about volunteering is that you often end up working with interesting, engaged, caring and like-minded people.  The people I've met volunteering have become some of my very best friends (Looking at you #lifeohlife crew!), have helped me network, have helped encourage me in my career, have supported me (and others) – and all of this in addition to supporting the work of a not-for-profit and program that we hold dear.

Programs like Forum wouldn't be able to run without their volunteers. Unsurprisingly, most of these volunteers, more often than not (at least in my experience), are unfailingly humble about their contributions. Many, who I've met and worked with, are happy to carry out their work behind the scenes, lifting others up, supporting, and most importantly caring, without asking for anything in return. 

I think that’s why I so appreciate the idea of the Governor General's Caring Canadian Award. It recognizes the contributions of these valuable, wonderful, humble people – “individuals who volunteer their time to help others and to build a smarter and more caring nation”.  These are the often-unsung heroes who work tirelessly to help others, to the betterment of their communities, their country, and all who come in contact with them.  I don’t know about you, but I could rattle off a lengthy list of volunteers who would be deserving of this award, and certainly a nomination (which you can do here in 3 simple steps).  I truly feel that this is a wonderful way to honour Canadians who have given so much to others. 

Want to know more? You can find all of the details about nominating a deserving volunteer that you know at caring.gg.ca.  

This is a sponsored post in collaboration with the Rideau Hall Foundation.  I am so absolutely proud to share a post about something so worthwhile as the Caring Canadian Award, especially given that volunteerism and volunteers have played such an important role in my life.  Thank you for supporting partnerships that help make this blog possible!

Intentional Gratefulness v.9

    It is currently my very favourite (albeit very short) time of year - when the lilacs are out! It's the time of year when I am often known to stop every time I see a lilac bush and just envelope my whole face in the gorgeous purple blooms that smell better than pretty much anything else.  I think it recalls the nostalgia of a beloved hiding spot on the property where I lived growing up - a little hidden spot inside a ring of lilac bushes.  I would hide there even when not playing hide and seek, just sit surrounded by gorgeous flowers and their intoxicating aroma - it was absolutely heavenly.  I think those happy memories combined with the beauty and brevity of these flowers fills me with delight each time I encounter them.       So what am I grateful for today? The fleeting few moments of late spring when I can surround myself with these fragrant flowers that give me a moment of blissful enjoyment and pure happiness whenever I encounter them.       What have you been feeling grateful for lately?

Earth Day Everyday

It's easy to remember to be earth-conscious today, on Earth Day - a day worth celebrating, in my humble opinion.  That said, I think this day where we take time to actually think about the earth and our impact upon it, that it's worth remembering how each and every small choice we make EVERY day can have a lasting effect.  There are small changes to daily habits that can benefit us as well as the world around us, and I think making conscious decisions to make those small steps, can lead to bigger ones.  I think it's worth being intentional about the small things - from how we carry our groceries to how we choose the clothes we wear.

Even though it was a cold, rainy Earth Day on PEI, I still managed to get outside and enjoy it. If rain is falling, it means more snow is melting and that green grass is no longer a far-off dream, but a soon-arriving reality.  In addition to my rain-soaked celebration out of doors, I thought I'd share a few of my favourite earth-friendly picks.

First? A tote bag. Plastic bags are one of the worst things, and it is so easy to replace those grocery bags with a fabric tote. They are stronger, they carry more (for my individual grocery shopping needs, my whole order can fit in one!), and they look better too.  I love this one from the Stay Home Club, that has been on my wishlist for ages. Soon!

Glasses, for me, are a necessity. I am lucky that big frames are having a moment, since they camouflage my super-thick lenses.  But plastic frames are even better when they're made from recycled materials, as this pair from Evergreen via ClearlyContacts.ca is.

I'm always looking for ethical beauty products, and I love that I can rely on Tarte for cruelty free and ethically sourced make-up picks.  Lately I have had my eye on this gorgeous poppy picnic palette from their summer collection = beauty I can feel good about.

If you've been following along here for any length of time, you'll know that I love supporting local Canadian designers.  You can't get much more local than Island talent, Dreamboat Lucy (although they've recently relocated to Alberta). I particularly love this cover-up and necklace from their summer range.  I already have several items from Dreamboat Lucy, both clothing and jewelry items, and a couple of them were actually made for me specifically to measure.  There's something awesome about knowing exactly where your clothing comes from, and especially knowing that the hands that made it were happy ones.

My dad has long prescribed baths as a cure-all to every possible ailment, and I think from that stems my love of bath products. I have recently discovered Rocky Mountain Soap Company, a Canadian company that makes their organic and toxin-free beauty products in beautiful Canmore, Alberta.  I have already developed an addiction to the heavenly-scented Blossom Berry collection (which I mentioned in my latest Beauty and Books video) and have also recently started using their lavender roll-on deodorant, and am officially converted. 

Last but not least - reusable beverage containers! The amount of plastic pollution both on land and at sea is absolutely horrifying, and I feel it is so important to minimize the use of one-time-use beverage containers wherever possible.  I have both a glass and metal water bottles for the gym and on-the-go, but I'd also like to add something like this Keepcup to that arsenal for trips to the coffee shop or, more importantly, to contain my constant tea-drinking habit.

Do you have any favourite eco-friendly products? I'd love to hear about them!

Intentional Gratefulness v. 8

via simplyclarke.com

Is it possible that we're already most of the way through April and this is my first gratefulness post of 2015? It is, and this is. Insert sheepish look here. I'm going back to my initial goal of sharing things I've been thankful for over the past week (or weeks) and am endeavouring to capture them more regularly here on the blog - because there really are so many things worth sharing.
Most recently, I'm feeling grateful for:
- Faraway friends who send me hilariously perfect gifts completely out of the blue.
- The warm-ish (today was only 12C) breezes signaling spring's reluctant arrival to this fair isle
- (Related to the above) Getting back into outdoor running!
- Tickles and giggles with a hilarious niece and nephew
-  Supportive co-workers who love a laugh and make me enjoy heading into the office each day.
- So many friendly faces around a still-new-to-me village: Everyone from the ladies at the post office to the library clerk to the owner of the local general store greeting me by name = the nicest thing.
- My new veggie spiralizer which has made my goal of eating healthy much more convenient and fun.
- A mini-trip to look forward to with my BFF Holly
- The new freckles finding their way to my face thanks to increased time in the spring sunshine
- Being able to come home for weekly Farmer's Market dates with my parents

What are you thankful for lately?

Valentine's Gift Ideas for ... Treating Yourself

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10

February is not one of my favourite months.  It's cold, and snowy, and it just feels like winter is never going to end (especially when it starts out like this one did, with a 67 cm snowfall!).  Also, as an eternally solo lady, Valentine's day has never been one of my favourite holidays, although the romantic in me enjoys the idea of it.  So this year? When everyone is putting out their "Gifts for Him/Her" lists, I'm putting out a list of treats for me! Not that I will be getting them all for myself this February 14th, but I might treat myself to at least one.

1. The "Stay Home Club" sweater - because obviously.
2. I could and would wear these adorable heart-shaped earrings every day.
3. These soft-pink frames that are so perfect.
4. A personalized initial charm
5. This gorgeous shade of pink from my polish favourite, Essie.
6. A full-sized bottle of Carven's signature scent (I've used up my rollerball!).
7. Pretty pastel notebooks. You can never have enough.
8. I love pretty teapots and teacups, so this heart-printed  "Tea for One" set is ideal.
9. As soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to try the Chocolate Bar palette from Too Faced.
10. Last but not least - a clutch I can only dream of from Olympia Le-Tan. 

#StormChips and Netflix: 5 Fun Ways to Weather a Snow Day

It's a blustery, blowing blizzard outside, with tweets coming in from all over the Island that it's a day to stay inside, to keep warm, and hole up in wintry hibernation. Last night at the local grocer, the Maritime phenomenon of gathering #StormChips was in full force, and I was no exception! Honestly, the only thing I'm missing? This genius sweatshirt from Olivia Mew's Stay Home Club.   In any case, with emergency preparedness out of the way, and power still blessedly on, I thought I'd take a moment some of my favourite activities for quite literally "storm-stayed" days (when the winds and blowing snow don't allow for a simple, joyful trip to the backyard for snowmen or snow-angels).   Crack Open a Good Book (or several)! I have a giant stack of to-be-read books stashed all over my humble apartment.  I've been picking away at them over the last several weeks but I plan to power through at least one or two with a steaming hot mug of tea in hand as the wind whistles past.   Get Fit, Have Fun! There are so many at-home workouts that are perfect for snowdays (or really any winter day when frigid climes make outdoor workouts intolerable).  I've got a pinboard of easy fitness routines, but I aso follow several fitness channels on youtube that offer fantastic workouts FO FREE. Yeah, it's awesome. My recommendations? Sarah Fit and Yoga With Adriene. The. Best.   Enjoy Guilt-free TV!  I admit, I do have a lot of screen-time (but living in a village where everything shuts down at 6pm, can you blame me?), although on normal days I try to squeeze in a fair bit of productivity to even the score.  This guilt goes out the window on snow days, however, and I will definitely take advantage of the chance to binge-watch some great tv and/or movies.  My Netflix picks for today: Twin Peaks,  Broadchurch,  Brooklyn 99 and The Bletchley Circle.  Pro Tip: This would be the time to crack open the storm chips!   Take Time to DIY! I don't know about you, but I have so many crafty ideas and recipes that I've been wanting to try and simply have not gotten around to. Today's the day for trying this new tasty-looking recipe for tomato and bean casserole and attempting to make homemade beauty products (keep an eye out for the results in an upcoming Stylelist post).  If there's a DIY you want to try, there are no excuses not to do it on a snow day!   Play Some Tunes!  Although I don't have my beloved piano in my current teeny, tiny place, practicing a musical instrument is one of my favourite ways to while away the quiet hours.  Currently I'm picking away at the much more portable long-abandoned ukulele, dragged from the depths of a closet where it had lain, long-forgotten until now.  My project for the day is to at least come up with a passable rendition of this tune from Misty Miller.  And if music's not your bag, perhaps take the time to devote some practice or time to your own favourite hobby!   What are your favourite snow-day activities? I'd love to know!

Hello 2015!

What a year! I can't believe that 2014 is already at an end, and we've launched into 2015.  I'm looking forward to starting fresh. I've got a new job, a new place, in a new town. I've accomplished a lot over the last year and though it had the usual ups and downs, I ended it feeling hopeful.     I looked back at my "resolution"-filled post from last year (see it here), and I am proud to say that I accomplished many of the things on that list. I ran a 10k and further. I didn't quite make 100 books read, but got close with about 75! I travelled to Switzerland and made beautiful memories with people that I love dearly. I volunteered. I went down two sizes. I wrote. I climbed a mountain (see photo above^)!!!!    Looking back, there have been difficult moments, but there have been beautiful moments too and I am grateful for the growth that both have provided. 
As I said in this post, I like to make a habit of posting my goals here to help keep myself accountable. And as always, I certainly have a few things I want to accomplish over the next year.
In 2015, I hope to:
- Actually make it to 100 books read! - Complete a Half-Marathon - Learn a new instrument (preferably one more portable than my beloved piano) - Spend less time dreaming, more time doing - Go back to school, even if only part-time: Learn! - Travel somewhere new - Sew a puff (or quilt) for a loved one's forthcoming 2015 baby - Successfully maintain an indoor herb garden (in spite of my black thumb) - Keep growing!

What are some of the goals you hope to work towards in the coming year? 

Intentional Gratefulness v.7

Here.

I can hardly believe it's already December - the countdown to Christmas is on! I've continued my trend of gallivanting back and forth across the country and have settled back on my beloved Prince Edward Island for the foreseeable future. I had a bit of a setback last month, but in spite of that, am trying to do just what the above photo suggests, and to focus on the good.

I'm grateful for:

Homemade popcorn, movie dates and good chats with my beautiful sister. Fortuitous opportunities arising seemingly out of the blue. Sweet nail-polish-filled surprises from a faraway friend. Christmas carols. Epic tickle sessions with a sweet niece and nephew. Brisk early winter runs. A cozy fireplace to sit beside. Giant slouchy warm sweaters. What are you thankful for lately?

Intentional Gratefulness v.6

Here.

While feelings of gratitude for joys big and small usually come very easily for me, over the past couple of weeks I have had to be much more "intentional" about reminding myself to find things to be grateful for. That said, I do have a few to share.
I am thankful for:
- First and foremost, the fact that friends and former colleagues at the Library of Parliament made it through a dangerous and harrowing experience unscathed.
- The beautiful fall colours and crisp autumn air in Prince Edward County.
- Flannelette.  - Challenging Schubert Impromptus that are sharpening up my rather rusty classical piano skills.
- Giggles and full-on belly laughs shared with a sweet 3-year-old niece.
- Honeycrisp apples with caramel dip.
- Marathon phonecalls with my best friend Holly who is a constant encouragement, confidante, and general balm to my soul.  

Flying Solo: 5 Activities for Solitary Days

As someone with a decidedly introverted personality, I spend quite a bit of time on my own. I have wonderful friends and delight in spending time with them, as well as with my family members, but I also very much enjoy (and actually kind of require) quite a bit of time to myself to feel refreshed, rejuvenated and truly content. This has led to the development of my own sort of activity "arsenal" for days when work is done and solitude is the order of the day - whether it be by choice or by happenstance.
1. Explore Exploration can, for me, take many forms. Sometimes it's discovering a new place, or rediscovering an old one. Sometimes it's taking a run down a new dirt road, or a hike through the woods. Sometimes it's poking around in a dusty old antique shop looking for treasures, or wandering in and out of local boutiques and shops.  One of my favourites? Clambering up and over rocks and sand, around inlets and jutting points on my beloved Island in spring, summer or early fall. 
2. Learn Take the time to learn something new, or work at developing and honing a skill you might already have. Right now I'm continuing to work at learning German, so I will often do a few lessons, or pick up one of my German books to refresh myself. Or, for something completely different, I'll check out some hair or beauty videos on Youtube and teach myself how to do look. I'm also currently working on learning this Schubert Impromptu as an ongoing project. There is always room for self-improvement, and often my best progress in any area is made during days to myself where I have the chance to devote the entirety of my attention to the task at hand.
3. Experience Solitary days are perfect for taking in experiences and really being able to focus on them completely, without distraction. One of my favourite activities, when I lived in Ottawa, was to visit the National Gallery and spend as long as I liked looking at paintings, sculptures, presentations. Taking as long as I wanted in each exhibit without the guilt of keeping someone else waiting was freeing. Other experiences I've enjoyed alone? Lectures, recitals, plays, concerts - the options are endless. 
4. Create Creativity and imagination are wonderful things, and one of my favourite things to do if I'm on my own is to exercise those two aspects of my personality. Whether it be through painting, photographing, creating a mosaic, jotting down thoughts in a journal, testing out new songs on the piano, attempting a craft or DIY project, or trying a new recipe. There are so many ways to express oneself and there's nothing better on a solitary day than to let those creative juices out!
5. Play One thing I have often observed in my nieces and nephews is their fascination with the world, their joy, and their love for play and fun. I feel like, as adults, that we rarely slow down enough to enjoy the simple things, to let loose and simply play! Most often, for me, that means getting out and doing something that gets my blood pumping, like going for a run, swim or bike ride. But I will say that one of my favourite playful moments was a day last summer when I headed to the beach after work and was the only one there (save a man walking his dog). It was a gorgeous night, the tide was out, and the water was amazingly warm. I ran out into the waves and threw myself into the water, floating along and letting the waves carry me back to shore and it was THE MOST FUN. Give yourself the chance to just enjoy, play, and simply have fun. It's seriously the greatest thing.
If you're an introvert like I am, perhaps you've got your own list of favourite solo pastimes - if so, I'd love to hear them! And for the extroverts in the bunch? Don't be afraid of alone time! I promise, it can be pretty fantastic! That said, the nice thing about all of these activities is that they are equally great - in a different way - when enjoyed with friends or loved ones.

Intentional Gratefulness v.5 - Thanksgiving

Today is a special "Thanksgiving" gratefulness post. I think it's important to keep an attitude of gratitude (see what I did there?) all year round, but certainly it's nice to have a day specifically with the celebration and priority of thankfulness.
For me it has been another year of transition, of changes, of travelling, not only around Canada but back to the home of my heart, Switzerland. There were, and are, many challenges for me this year, but there is also much to be grateful and very thankful for, and I wanted to share a few of those things here, today.
I'm thankful for - 
A sweet new niece to add into the mix of darling nieces and nephews who bring me so many smiles, so much joy, and so much love.
For my family and friends, all of whom are willing to do so much for me - for supporting, praying, encouraging, uplifting, opening their homes, laughing with me, crying with me, for just being there and even, from time to time, doling out some tough love when I need it. There are beautiful souls in abundance in my life and I count each one as a blessing.
For the gift of gloriously happy time spent with faraway loved ones who are always close to my heart even if they reside across an ocean from me. 
I'm thankful that this year I was able to make a significant step towards the journey to health. I have run further and faster than I ever thought I could, and am almost back to feeling like "me". I've managed to drop 4 dress sizes and sixty-five pounds so far and am not far off from reaching (and maintaining) my goals. The journey is ongoing, but actually being able to see and feel the progress has been a huge reward.
Lastly, I'm thankful for opportunity. This year (or well, the last couple of years) has been uncertain, to say the least. I've struggled with that uncertainty for many months, but when talking with my brother-in-law, he encouraged me to see this time as an opportunity rather than a source of anxiety. He reminded me that there may be no other time in my life when I have the freedom of movement, of choices, of risk-taking, that I have now, and that in actuality, many potential doors are open to me. I'm thankful, therefore, for that shift in perspective, and seeing some of those open doors. I'm looking forward with hope, and I'm grateful for that.
What are you feeling grateful for? Let me know in the comments!

Intentional Gratefulness v. 4

It's hard to believe we're almost at mid-August already; it's truly amazing how quickly the summer is passing, although I suppose it feels that way every year. It has been a lovely month so far here on the Island (with the exception of today's rainy weather) and there is so much to be thankful for, that I wanted to share with you all.

So far in August I'm grateful for...

A cuddly sweet niece and nephew who constantly make me giggle and laugh with their hilarious quips and antics.

An afternoon spent at Thunder Cove swimming, jumping, wading and floating in waves which were crashing with whitecaps, and beautiful and amazingly, surprisingly, warm. 

My friend Lindsey, writer of an extremely touching, encouraging message that lifted my heart.

A visit from my best friend and her family!

The fact that I somehow managed to bike 42 kilometres (for the first time ever, might I add!) and survived!

And last but certainly not least - having a full day to spend with one of my oldest and dearest friends who almost always gets mistaken for my sister, since we're both redheads - of course! We visited the art gallery and there were all sorts of interesting pieces on display. One of our favourites was a little tent set up with a gritty faux-snow floor and two little painted tree stumps for seats. Inside, a video was playing, about a girl with a papier mâché cake and a troupe of bears singing about losing their teeth - I know it sounds super weird but it was strangely entertaining. Outside this little tent was a line of felt boots, from giant ones down to teeny little ones. I couldn't resist the temptation to try on a pair, and you can see my delight in the photos Pam snapped of my antics.  Afterwards we window-shopped in cute Charlottetown boutiques, had a yummy lunch at a favourite local pub, travelled the countryside stopping into a toy factory, an adorable but abandoned little house, and the sweetest shop set up in what was once an old one-room schoolhouse, finally stopping for locally-made ice cream. Wonderful.

What  have you been thankful for this recently? 

Please feel free to share in the comments (or via twitter or facebook) - I'd love to hear!

Intentional Gratefulness v. 3

The month of June has been good to me, there are seemingly endless things to be grateful for, and I feel particularly blessed, in many ways and by many people. I thought today was a good day to share some of those things here.
I'm grateful for ...
A faraway BFF (Looking at you Holly) who patiently puts up with phone tag, is my voice of reason, who sends me encouraging and uplifting letters, listens as I talk in circles through my little daily dramas, and in general makes my life a million times better because she's in it.
A lovely librarian friend (Linds!) who is endlessly supportive and thoughtful in helping a non-networker network. 
Enjoying lots of quality time and making multiple fond memories with my sister, niece and nephew. It's been a month of swimming, sailing, sunshine, perfect popcorn-popping tutorials, pancakes, pedicures, photo-taking, laughter, and fun, and I'm glad that I had the time and the lack of distractions to take it all in.
Last, but certainly not least is the fact that in FIVE SHORT DAYS I will be reunited with the loves of my heart in Switzerland. So soon!!!!! Insert squeals and crazy happy dances here.

Loving the Letter

Photo found here.

Over the past few months I have gotten back into a long-neglected habit - letter-writing. Although my laptop and I are attached at the hip, when I am interacting with friends I prefer to do so without technology getting in the way. For instance, when I'm out for dinner with a group I (perhaps annoyingly) scold those who have their phones out at the table - a huge pet peeve of mine. I prefer phonecalls over texts, and face to face visits most of all, if possible, but the reality of my life at the moment is that my parents, siblings and many of my close friends live in other provinces or countries and communicating through technology often seems like the best option. 

While I still make (frequent) use of email, skype, text and calls to communicate with faraway friends and family members, I began to think about how much joy it brings to me, personally, when I receive a handwritten letter in the mail. I love letters because they are each something special that a dear friend or loved one has sat down to write - putting pen to paper. A missive for which one must find or buy a stamp, and subsequently track down a letter box or post office to send that little note over the land or through the air and over the sea to find its way into a mailbox, and the happy hands of the recipiant.When I thought about how happy I was upon receipt of such tangible notes, I thought that returning to good old-fashioned letter writing could be a good way to show love, share encouragement, or even just give a happy update to the people in my life.

With that in mind, I ordered some pretty Kate Spade stationery, picked up some of my favourite pens, and started writing. To some friends, who I knew were going through tough periods, I would write weekly letters. To others, a quickly jotted note here, a fun postcard there. And more and more I realized, from the responses to these simple communications - just how much a hand-written letter can brighten someone's day. So I've kept it up. Ideally? I would love for all of my friends and family members to have a little stockpile of letters like the one pictured above, letting them know that I am thinking of them, caring, supporting and loving them. That they can keep and look back on when skies are cloudy or grey. Perhaps I am a bit romantic in my vision of aged paper wrapped in ribbons, stored away in steamer trunks kept in attics - how magical! But in seriousness, I really do believe that showing intentional investment in friends and family can only have positive results - and I have certainly seen many of those so far.

In any case, my stockpile of pretty stationery supplies continues to grow (if you ever want to know what to get me as a gift, hint hint), and I've already had to replace a few pens that had worn dry after spilling out word after word. My next goal? Improve the quality of my "art" of letter writing with a few tips from the pros.  

If any of you are keen to find a colourful envelope and a happy letter in your mailbox, send me an email with your address and you just might find one! Pen pals welcome! 

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Intentional Gratefulness v. 1

Photo via Pinterest

It's admittedly been a little quiet here on the blog lately. But I think every blogger sometimes has moments where life just gets in the way, and I think that can sometimes be a good thing. In my case, it hasn't been anything bad, quite the opposite - I have lots of reasons to smile lately. I've been busy loving life.

And so I thought it high time to begin a series on gratefulness, coming to you on Fridays, today and future. I was inspired by the journey my dear friend Beth has been going on - finding things big and small to be grateful for each day and documenting them on her tumblr. As this video adorably if un-scientifically proved, being grateful can and does have a huge impact on happiness. I have certainly found it to be true for me. And so, as both a log of blessings in my life as well as a method of keeping myself accountable to living in a state of intentional gratitude, this series was born.

My vision for this series was to capture these blessings and small joys in photographic form, but since I've essentially been walking on a cloud for the last few weeks, knowing that after many, many long years I will finally be going back to the little country that found a permanent place in my heart - Switzerland - I think it only right that that story gets full focus in this inaugural gratefulness post. I don't think it is possible to describe the level of joy that I feel about these upcoming travels. And when I saw this image on Pinterest - I thought the idea of "sunshine in my soul" captured it really well.

A bit of backstory - if you are interested: Fresh out of high school, I went on an exchange year to Switzerland. It is worth noting that we had a bit of a choice of countries to go to - and Switzerland was not on my list (I chose all Asian countries), or even on my radar as a place to go. It was, however the top choice of my friend Ellen. When it was announced to us eager outbound exchange students that she was going to Thailand and I to Switzerland, she burst out into excited happiness which prompted my then (and who am I kidding, still) very shy self not to mention what seemed to be an obvious mistake. Instead, I opted simply to grin and bear the fact that I was going to some country I'd barely heard of outside of the fact that it was the destination of the Von Trapp family at the end of the Sound of Music. I managed to hold it together until I got to the car where my mom was waiting, and promptly - and ungratefully - burst into tears. She reassured me that there must be some reason why I was going to Switzerland, and that I would surely see what that was soon enough.

As mothers often are, she was right - indeed there was a reason. Upon arrival, I met the most wonderful, warm, fun, and loving family you could imagine, with whom I stayed for six happy months (before the obligatory switching up of host families), and fell absolutely in love with all of them almost instantaneously. I think it was likely because I immediately felt that they were truly some of the kindest and most beautiful souls I have ever had the pleasure of knowing - and they proved me right again and again, and continue to do so to this day. Lots of memories were made - there was laughter, tears, jokes, hikes (with bleeding feet: mine), baking disasters (also mine) and so much more - and I found that I suddenly had a whole extra family. They became, and still are, as close in my heart as my own family here in Canada. I even cajoled my dearest little brother Sébastien (who is now totally grown up - even if I still picture him as a gangly 15 year-old) into at least considering coming to Canada on an exchange of his own. He subsequently did, and of all of the cities, towns, or provinces he could have ended up in, he landed in Moncton, NB. Which, as it happens, was where I was attending university, in the third year of my undergraduate studies. Fated to know this wonderful family? All the signs pointed to yes. The rest of the family journeyed to Canada to visit at the end of his exchange year, and on summer days spent swimming, strolling PEI's sandy shores and watching sunsets over the Gulf of St. Lawrence, it felt like all of the pieces that had been missing from my heart were finally back in the place where they truly belonged.

Fast forward the nine long years in which we haven't seen each other (far too long, I admit) to last spring, in arguably one of the toughest years I've had to date. It took one conversation with one member of that special Swiss family to spark the thought of a possible visit with the people who fill my heart with so much joy - a visit that has been such a long time coming. That whisper of a hope got me through, gave me a reason, when sometimes it felt like I didn't have many, to get up in the morning, to stand up and take notice. I credit that hope with enabling me to pick up the pieces and turn things around - to move forward. Giving me yet one more reason to be grateful that I ended up in the country of chocolate, cheese and cowbells instead of spices, heat and shining Buddhist temples - with people who would impact my life in so many positive ways, and fill my heart with more blessings than I can count.

 Even though oceans, borders and time have for far too long separated us, we will  finally have a long-awaited reunion and I am thrilled. Over-the-moon. Joyful beyond words. And absolutely grateful, more than words are able to express.

The 60-odd days until I take flight across the land and over the sea to the home of my heart cannot pass quickly enough. 

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Words to Live By

I was reminded of these words from Joyce Meyer in an instagram post from Stephanie the other day, and although I had read them before, they really seemed to hold new meaning for me this time round. Since last year I have been trying to live and love more intentionally, making time to do things and share things that will let the people that I care about how much I love and value them. And you know what? It does indeed bring me great joy. So when I reread these words, I felt them really speak to my heart as a bit of a motto the way I want to try live my life - loving other people. 

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Sisters

Sharing some love for my dear sister Rose today - it's her birthday! Of all my sisters, she is closest to me in age, and we have grown up sharing secrets, jokes, mischief (although the mischief was mostly caused by me, Rose was always too sweet and well-behaved), and wonderful memories too numerous to recount. 

Her love for nature and for people is constant inspiration to me and I treasure having her as a sister, and more importantly as a kindred spirit and friend. There may be no other who knows the many facets of my personality - good and bad - as this lady, and she loves me all the same. Which of course, is what sisters do.

Love you Rosie! Happy Birthday!

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Ring in the New!

Image Credit : Glitter Guide

2013 was a year of ups and downs, of moving back and forth between provinces, of new jobs, new beginnings, of lifestyle change, of achieving goals, and investing in relationships with those most important to me. In spite of the fact that much of it was difficult and discouraging, there were reasons to be grateful, moments of laughter and happiness, and reasons to hope.

That said, I admit that I am looking onwards and upwards to 2014, and I have a good feeling that this year will be better than the last, the start of something new. And it will be - not just in my life in general but also here at lotsixtyfive.com. You'll see a few changes forthcoming on the blog, a little bit of a facelift, and a few new features, which I'm excited about, and I hope you will be too. I do, however, enjoy the process of thinking on the year and coming up with a few goals to work towards, which I thought I would publish here, partially to share my vision for the new year, and partially to help keep myself accountable!

- (Continue to) Focus on fitness and healthy nutrition    

- 2013 saw me complete a 5k, here's to a 10k in 2014

- Read 100 books in a variety of genres (so far: one down, 99 to go!)    

- Volunteer: serve others

- Write more!

- Practice intentional gratefulness

- Embrace colour!

- Add a little bit of sparkle to every day     

- Travel to Switzerland

- Try (at least) one new recipe a month

- Learn a new skill (Ideas: Bookbinding, Sewing, Knitting.. all of the above?)

- Take more photographs. Keep learning!

             

What are some of the goals you hope to work towards in the coming year? Feel free to share in the comments, or send me a note on twitter!

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