Let's daydream for a bit.

I follow the runway sometimes...but nothing has got me this excited in a long time. How dreamy are these dresses from the Elie's Saab's 2010 collection? I also love the fact that the runway itself looked watery and reflected off the shimmery dresses. If I could have another wedding (to the same man of course!) I think I'd wear something totally different (not white!). Maybe I'd wear the last one here...the muted teal...and theme the whole wedding with that airy, dreamy feeling. Beautiful.

A smart card.

Finally...after probably TWO years of thinking about it, I've got my butt down to the library and snatched myself a library card! 12 bucks. And I can stop trying to read books I want in the bookstore! Ha. The only small annoyance is that all the new or popular books are on hold constantly...for a lot of my top picks, I'm number 203 or 167... I hope it doesn't take too long!

I just finished reading The Road, (2007 Pulitzer Prize winner) and that got me back into my urge to want to read. It was an unusual style. So barren and cold. But I enjoyed changing it up from my usual (will have to see the movie now too. Who doesn't love Viggo?) The thing is, when I'm reading, I love it. It's hard for me to put a book down...I just becomes far too long between my good reads. So I'm pledging to get back to reading regularly, not only for fun, but also for ways to improve my vocab and explore different styles. And it's always a great conversation starter too. We spent a lot of time talking books with the ladies at a family get-together this past weekend in Three Hills (Trav's Dad's side) and I was dismayed to realize I hadn't read one of all the top picks! So that's how I created the list below.

I have them on hold right now. Do you guys have any other must-reads I should get my hands on?

~Glass Castle

~Eat, Pray, Love

~Poisonwood Bible

~Book of Negroes

~Kite Runner

~The Last Dance (Josephine B. Trilogy)

~In Defense of Food

~How to Make Love Like a Pornstar (hehe)

I know these are some picks that have been popular for awhile now, but it doesn't matter to me. No more I should...I will! Book club anyone?

Playing the game...

So I like being cyber-tagged...I'm not to the point where it happens often (which is totally fine!) so I enjoy it when it does happen. Megz from This Next Step passed this along:

Write 10 things that make you happy, and then tag 10 people to do the same:

Easy peasy! Perfect timing too. It's Monday, which is reason enough to think happy thoughts. Here's the big ten right now (but they'd probably be different tomorrow!)

~Hank and Saku sleeping with me when Trav is on nights

~Bodyrock.tv

~Learning to eat clean and becoming a better cook because of it

~Reading again (I've got a list must-reads!)

~Playing with two-year-olds but not living with them (yet) ; )

~Oats with gooey chocolate chips

~Planning a vacation

~Having a clean house

~Throwing my hair into a messy bun

~Teaching a great dance class when everything just connects

Been feeling a little blah lately...but this is a fantastic reminder to keep my chin up, as my Mom would say. Thanks Meaghan. Oh, and this is an open invitation...so please go ahead and tag yourself. (I'm not lazy, I swear...I just want people who want to actually do it to do it!)

Stressssssssssssss...

Work has been, well, work: a challenge to stay sane. But it's Friday, and the week has had its highs and lows. The trick is to remember the highs, I know...but I've always been so terrible at that! People who seem so confident, so sure of themselves in every situation no matter how unfamiliar or big the situation is, seem to keep those good things in their head. While I internally run through my weaknesses, they've wiped them out of their heads completely. How do they do that? Or is it a fake-it-til-you-make-it thing? Whatever is, I'm going to try. I think confidence is the foundation of success...and that attitude may make my work weeks go a little smoother. Or at least benefit me more in the long run! So no second-guessing. No letting anyone determine your worth. Let's try it.

And I'm still working to be able to wear this soon ; )

I plan on posting my fool-proof EAT CLEAN recipes right away. It's taken some experimenting, but I'm finding this new way of eating to be a fun challenge...who would've guessed?

Recipe for the perfect weekend...

• no appointments or deadlines
• no work (other than cooking supper for a house full of boys)
• a movie
• attempting ice hockey outside with perfect sunny winter weather
• getting up early to buy groceries at the farmers' market
• playing with your dog
• napping
• reading something you WANT to read
• having a clean (fully vacuumed!) house
• having just enough energy to do a couple workouts
• browsing Chapters for hours with a London Fog in hand
• ensuring you do all this with your fabulous husband by your side!

It must've been this combination of things, but I had such a simple but perfect weekend. I feel reenergized and content. Happy. And ready to take on this work week.

Back and...?

Feeling strange. Maybe it has something to do with the fact I slept in until noon yesterday? My patterns are completely out of whack. Not ready to be back working either...I was enjoying the sleep in/workout/watch tv/browse recipes/make chosen recipe/stay up late watching a movie/repeat routine. Sigh. Usually at this time of year I'm so gung ho about a new year ahead...making plans, promises and knowing not all of it is doable but going for it anyway.

This year I haven't made set resolutions, but my 101 in 1001 days is still running. If I had to nail it down, there are two bullet points floating around in my head:

1. GO TO BED EARLIER. Why, oh why is this so tough? It's certainly not the first time it's made an appearance on zee blog. (Always wanted to write 'zee blog'...not sure why. But there it is.) It sounds easy but I think it's my hardest goal to achieve yet!

2. Learn French. Oui oui oui! I so badly yearn to yammer away in foreign tongue. Then I could understand Trav's hockey games too. (Cause we all know how fulfilling that will be ;) ) But seriously, I do live in a French neighbourhood, I have a French name, and we plan to name our first boy a very French name. It just seems fitting. Ha.

I'll let you know how it goes.