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Holiday Season Survival Tips and No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe
We are now full on into the holiday season, which means shopping, parties, shortbread, and, let’s face it, feeling a bit like you’re running around like a chicken with its head cut off. This is not a feeling exclusive to Christmas time, but it’s certainly amplified at this time of year. Unexpected guests, forgetting presents, hopping from event to event (I had three last Thursday!). How to survive the most wonderful time of the year – and, really, anything…
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Memory Appreciation
Have you ever had a work day where everything was just MEH? And had a touch of cranky just to top it all off? That was me a few weeks ago. What I do for work involves me having to be fairly pleasant (even when I’m not feeling it), so I was exhausted and not feeling so great when I got home. At the same time, I was telling myself to get a grip – why was…
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Happy 2016!
Do you remember when you were a kid and it felt like the boring things took forever and the fun things (like summer) went by so quickly? Then, we became adults and got “busy”; wondering how time flew by and wishing we could have had (or made) time to appreciate things. 2015 was both slow and quick for me, but I can truthfully say that I appreciated every day of it. When I said “bring it on” to 2015, I…
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Looking Back at a Paris Birthday
I recently celebrated my 32nd(!) birthday. In 2013, I didn’t have time or energy to write about 30. In 2014, I didn’t have a functioning laptop while I was away to write about 31. But this year, for 32, I took the time to reflect – possibly because unlike 30 and 31, I’m feeling a little shaky about 32. I’ve had to think about that. Why has this number been bugging me? And I’ve realized that I am both nervous…
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Say what?!: Quirky British Words Translated
I recently made a new ex-pat friend from England*. We were chatting and the word “windscreen” came up about his car. He then said “That’s a windshield, sorry need to use the North American word!”. I already knew this, but it made me remember that I had started a list of the British words and translations that I have learned and compiled over the years of visiting my second favourite rainy place after Vancouver. Every time I visit the…
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The Canadian flag turns 50!
It is National Flag of Canada Day and the Canadian flag turns 50. Wait, what? My almost 150 year old country’s flag has only been around for a third of the confederacy? When I was reminded of this, I remembered that up until the mid-sixties, this was the flag that Canada used: Wherever I go in the world, or even just in Canada, if I see a Canadian flag flying beautifully in the wind, I will take a picture.…
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Mala mail
I love getting mail. Not bills, obviously, but good mail. Occasion cards, postcards (my favourite!), or something I’ve ordered. The mail redirect from the recent move is working so that’s a bonus. I also like sending mail. As my friends and family know, I am an avid postcard sender. Mail, for me, is something simple, yet tangible and personal in a time where we mostly “LOL” electronically instead sharing that belly laugh in person. My favourite piece of…
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Happy 2015! Attraversiamo, patience and goals for the New Year
Attraversiamo: verb – cross, go across, walk across, traverse, go through, pass through, pass; span Yes, I recently (re)watched and (re)read “Eat, Pray, Love”. But, it’s great word, and very appropriate for going in to a New Year. It’s also fun to say. Attraversiamo. 🙂 Every New Year’s Eve, I go through my goals. What happened this past year? What would I like to achieve in the next 365 days? Did I have fun? (For the most part, yes!) My…
