ode to january.

i so enjoyed all of your days. usually you are my most dreaded month. this year, not so. looking forward to seeing you again next year. here is a song for you. enjoy the last few months of winter, my friends. it will be over before we know it.

the power of movement.

A friend introduced me something called the Power of Movement. It's a yoga challenge to raise money and awareness for arthritis research and other autoimmune diseases. It was started by a woman in Toronto in 2005 and is now an event across Canada. This year I'll be participating in the event in Halifax on February 27 and I'm really really excited about it. I'm excited to do a mass-group yoga class. I'm excited to be part of something that contributes to, and supports movement and awareness. I'm excited to be a part of something bigger than myself. It feels really great. I've given myself one month to raise $200 and I'm blown away by the fact that I think I've raised pretty much that in ONE DAY. My friends and family are awesome. Great job everybody.

I posted this video a few months ago, but in the spirit of things I thought I would re-post because she's awesome and inspirational and great. Namaste.

Do What You Love - Afton from The Panic Room Videos on Vimeo.

president obama, you inspire me.

At about 17 minutes in he starts discussing education, parenting, families and TEACHERS. So worth a listen. I feel optimistic. I feel that words like this, ideas like these, this togetherness, can silence the noise of the Glen Beck's, the Sarah Palin's, and the cacophony of utter craziness that seems to characterize the States lately. I think the States are better than that, I really do. I'm optimistic for the future. Way to start things off on the right foot tonight, Mr. President.

tuesday love.

super cute.



Also.... if only I had seen this before our wedding! Dammit.  I LOVE them and think they would be ridiculous fun at a wedding. Don't you think?

found here: http://www.icebreakertags.com/

Check out more fun ones here. Makes me want to throw a party.

And an update: Our little guy is still in the hospital. Still sending love and happy thoughts his way. xo.

grateful.

Today. I'm stopping and taking it all in.

I tend to over-think things, I analyze. I re-assess, I re-think. I often need to actively remind myself to let things go, to sometimes just be... to let things happen. To not obsess. It's tricky.

But it's only Tuesday and it's been such a heavy week.  There has been much talk about death around day care this week. A few different things are happening, or have happened to make us all stop and take stock of our families and the families that we support and care for. Because in caring for children, we are caring for families. You realize how much families go through. You stop and think about support, what that means, what that looks like and how to do it. Is there a right way? I don't know. We have a child in intensive care at the IWK. A child that has been sick with brain tumors since birth and has gone through a host of surgeries and treatments. One treatment which has left him with a diseased lung, a lung that collapsed last night and has brought him back to the hospital once again. His story is heartbreaking but his family is so remarkable. His mother is a pillar of strength, as most mothers are. She is caring for a dying child and continuing to mother to the best of her capabilities two other children. It's so much.

So friends.. hug everyone you love today. Tell them so. Smile at a stranger. Let things go. Be grateful. Love eachother. What else is there? Put love out there into the world. If you see me, give me a hug too, okay?

let freedom ring

 

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?" Martin Luther King Jr.

Today is Martin Luther King Day in the States. I was confused when I heard [and read] people wishing eachother a happy long weekend on Friday. I didn't make the connection. But this morning I started to think... is this just another long weekend? Has making a day to observe and remember a man just turned into a perk of having a long weekend in January? I hope not.  I hope it's not already turning into something completely devoid of meaning and leaning more closely to just another day of consumerism. God I hope not. We've only been 'celebrating' this day for 25 years, you'd think it would still be somewhat fresh and relevant, the fact that this day is intended to be a day of sevice, a day to volunteer, a day to connect, a day to give back.  Maybe the problem is that I don't watch American news.  But I hope tonight a segment of all Amercian news broadcasts highlight what communities and people were actually doing today. Because this idea, this movement, this whatever it can be called, it can really be something more than just a day off.  It can be a day that kids understand, a connection that kids get from early age, the importance of community and of connection. I hope anyway.

I have a project. It's January, so a good time to begin things. A year in pictures. I'm trying to remind myself to take more pictures of Halifax, and just life in general. I always had my camera with my in Belgium, and I loved it, but here...I haven't been great. So I have to make a concerted effort. But a year from now I'd like to be able to look at pictures taken and post one from each month. Images of 2011. Fun, and also a way for me to stay on track with my goals [goals! yeesh] and to reflect on the year. So let's see....

And one more thing. I had a really, truly great day at work today. The first day where I feel really positive about what I'm doing, and why I'm doing it. I effectively problem solved, I listened empathetically, offered advice and in return, was truly listened to and confided in.The complete opposite of what I felt was going to happen. I had a meeting. A meeting I was dreading. A meeting that I [emphasis inserted] had to facilitate. ME! All by myself. And I was sure I was going to be a} yelled at b} ripped a new one, or c} possibly cry. But none of that happened. The scary person I was meeting with wasn't scary at all. She was quite lovely actually. And I think we've got some mutual respect going. So yay us. It felt pretty damn fantastic. For the first time I feel that I may have something to contribute and that I may actually be alright at this job. Phwef. It's been rough going for a while.

halifax love.

Hey Everyone!

How great is this video? And by extension... how great is Halifax? So great, I say. Recently I've had a few conversations with people about why Halifax is so great. Because people ask.  The general consensus seems to be that 'yes, Halifax is great, I've heard that.... but why?' And when you try to give reasons, I don't know. It never seems quite complete to me. After spending a few days in Toronto it became even clearer to me that Halifax is the place for me. And the simplest reason I can come up with is the people here. People are very real. You know what you're getting, for the most part. We have our issues here, most definitely. But I feel completely optimistic for the future of Hailfax. And I feel that way because of the people that I meet here. So I think we're onto something.

Check out our fair city and the adorable Jenn Grant.



And while we are on the subject... I'm stunned that I haven't posted this video yet. Because it definitely needs to live on my blog.



So in celebration of Halifax, this weekend I plan to make visits to Elsie's, Luv Me Boutique, Back in Time, and Lost & Found. Halifax has some great stuff. Don't you agree? What are your faves?

Fascinating! 'Relics' of the late 20th Century.  School kids in Montreal try to make sense of them. Recognize any? The Fisher Price record player really spoke to me.

 

wednesday crushes

robot wallpaper is my fave

a Polaroid wall is my fave

a pink fridge is my fave

coffee sac bedspread is my fave

she is my fave

being cozy in hand knit blankets is my fave

Happy Wednesday.

paris je'taime et a bientot

Paris is pure magic. Always. Bon hiver.

The last time we were in Paris we spent some time in Montmarte and I took a picture of this wall.  I thought it was interesting but then kind of forgot about it. I just read somewhere that it has 'I love you" written on it in over 300 languages! I wish I'd gotten a closer shot of it.

Here's someone elses.

happy new year

 

Feeling completely grateful to have ended 2010 in such a wonderful way, and to have spent the first day of 2011 feeling happy, loved, fulfilled, and just generally awesome.  Things in general are just pretty fantastic. And I hope everyone else is feeling the love as well.  Today there was much laughter, food, drinks and dancing in my life.  What more could you ask for? Absolutely nothing, I say.

This year, I resolve to ::

+ be patient

+ stay positive as much as humanly possible

+ be strong

+ slow down

+ express myself more clearly

+ do more things that scare me. I'm turning into the biggest wimp ever. That's not great.

Wishing you all the best for a happy, peaceful, fulfilling and exciting New Year! Have fun.