What you learn when you're listening

What an awesome weekend this has been.   Nothing special really, and I think that’s what makes it awesome.      Lots of rest, some good food, wonderful wine, crackling fire, a shopping trip with my sis – all good.    Oh and I should mention a facial yesterday.

Which brings me to my facial yesterday.      I have never been one who likes facials.   Way to much goop on top of goop for me (problem skin, you see).     WELL!       I saw the most amazing woman here in Westboro (Ottawa).   She owns a company called Woman Divine.   She is…… Magdalena.      She is a trained massage therapist, turned face/skin miracle worker.       She complements her Facial services with massage, and by the end you’ve almost had a full body massage to boot.     The most wonderful experience I’ve had in awhile.

         

But it gets better.     She treats her patients holistically!     Not kidding!.     Could I have been any happier with this revelation(?).     She explained to me that our skin is directly impacted by what we eat.   I get that.   We all get that.     However, she explained that when we eat high acidic foods, while it leaves our body in an over acidic state which is terrible for our health, it also irritates our skin.    An acidic internal environment creates inflammation and irritation, which of course comes out in our skin.    She also mentioned that when our internal environment is overly acidic it also translates into similar emotions – irritation.     I found this to be just so interesting.

Causes of high acidity:    coffee, chocolate, wine (all bad news I know), red meat.      Something that promotes an alkaline environment (which is a much healthier state), is lemons.     One would think that lemons would be acidic, and while they are, they turn alkaline once ingested. 

So while freshly squeezed lemon water in the morning is good for the liver, it would seem it is also good for Alkalinity too!     Who knew!!       Suggest you google this – interesting stuff.

Day full of fun things ahead:      making our new headboard, raking the leaves, a yoga class, maybe a nap, and some delicious dinner.

Oh, and it’s currently 7:00 a.m. and it’s bright out – yahoo!!     

The best about.........

Friday nights.    GAWD does it get any better than Friday nights?    Really?
So had a pretty hectic/crazy/busy day today at work.         Never mind, a fairly busy week of socializing with my G’s (aka girlfriends –‘cause I”m cool) [quiet].

But then 5:00 PM hits, the drive home, a stop at the Wine store for a few bottles (yes, I’m expecting this lasts the weekend!), and home I go.  

Made a fire (a real fire), opened a bottle of red, hub had beers, ordered a pizza, fires is a-blazin’.     GAWD, it’s all good.     (OK, so I know, you think I’ve had too much wine right?    You think I’m all happy because of the wine, and not because it’s Friday night).     Well, neither of us are wrong :)      Not gunna lie.
And now, it’s 8:15 and I’m in bed with my laptop.    More goodness here. 

In the meantime, we’re expecting snow this weekend, again.    Was in Home Sense last weekend, and have begun the search for the Christmas door wreath.     Since my fall mum’s are dead (everyone else’s are alive, I DO NOT know what conspiracy theory is exactly going on here, but, I don’t care if they’re dead, so there!)

I must say I do have a thing for wreaths.      And these (from Martha Stewart) make me very happy.    Even happier, than my Shiraz infused happiness.     Is that possible?    Wait, does that even make sense?



I love this.   This may be on my door very soon – worth a drive-by.



While my front door is not white (it’s blue) this is very fresh and clean.   I like’it.



There is something just so refreshing about green and blue and Christmas.   It’s a modern green and red, I find.   LOVES.



Love this idea.   Not lovin’ the green paint, or the candle sconce in the middle of the huge wall, but I do love the idea of the wreaths and the garland.

Hope you are enjoying your Friday night.      Tell me, are your mum’s dead?     If so, go buy a wreath and get on with it, that’s what I say!

Happy Friday.

Princess Layla

As promised, pics of Princess Layla, otherwise known as Golden Retriever Barbie, in her Halloween costume.     A tad late……

Don’t tell me she doesn’t love the camera!



I am beautiful, no matter what they say, words can’t bring me down.



Stares off in an unassuming way – what camera?



Love my right side…..



I am innocent, and I am beautiful.



Big sister – I want to be as cool as her some day – I think the hat does it, don’t you?


Do I look natural? – really:   what’s on top of the fridge that I could eat?

Golden Retriever Barbie – my best friend!!!

Oh the joy

Today is ending so awesomely (is that a word, I think so, no red underlining).     Okay, so today.      Weekly team breakfast meeting at work - went pretty well, made some contributions, didn’t sound crazy or anything.      Check.

The rest of the day was…….also pretty good.     Heard back on a proposal we submitted, that we are in first place so far, and now it’s down to pricing.     And we priced to win.       Check.

The rest of the day was f-i-n-e.     Nothing special.       Afternoon a little long I must say.      Mini-chocolate bars in the kitchen disappeared, so didn’t even have any chocolate to entertain myself with.     Yes, I know, I am better for it.    Yada yada.

But, the piece-de-resistance was this evening.     I went to watch my friend play women’s volleyball.     And when I walked into that gymnasium it was like I was home.    For those who don’t me, I played women’s volleyball alot of my life.    Varsity volleyball in high school, played some college ball, and played on women’s teams through my 20’s and 30’s.      Fell away from it when my ladies started having babies, and well I really haven’t played since.

That old familiar smell of the gymnasium, the sound of balls hitting the floor from women running drills, the sound of sneakers on the hardwood, the ref’s whistle blowing, the cheering, the camaraderie – ohhhh, I’ve got the fever.     I’ve been away so long, I thought I had lost it.
You know, I think there’s something just so good about sports.     And playing sports.     I wonder sometimes, if we spend too much time in the gym, or doing solo type activities, ie, running, yoga.      It’s good for the soul to “play”.

So, while the leagues have already started, I’ve committed to putting my name on a spares list, and getting back on the court.   

I fell in love all over tonight.        Here are some shots that bring me joy.


US Women’s Team.


Wasn’t sure which team this is – but check out their reach – wowza!


US Women’s power hitter.    Check how much air she has!!!  Yeah!

“Play” is good for the soul.      I know I don’t “play” enough.      Do you?

Project November

Decided to take an idea from another blogger (Things That Make Me Happy...), ‘cause I loved the idea so much.      November can be a tough month (for some) – Thanksgiving (Canadian) is over, Halloween is over, and really, November is (usually) dark, rainy, and well……eventless.      While I love the fall on the whole, I find a few of these months pretty tough.     And this has nothing to do with wacked out hormones.      It’s just……….well…….November.

So I decided to borrow the idea of listing all the great things to love about this month, November.      Here it goes:

1.   The Ottawa Wine and Food Show is this weekend (gastro delight)
2.   A few friends’ birthdays (means celebrations)
3.   The time change – brings bright mornings (come on that’s a good thing)
4.   Lots of time for early Christmas shopping (delayed pay-off I know – we’ll be happy for November the week before Christmas)
5.   Time to experiment with the CrockPot (made amazing stew last night – I wouldn’t do this in July, just sayin’)
6.  Project Yoga – lots of time in November, get your ass to Yoga
7.   The Muscular Dystrophy Gala here in Ottawa – fun and a good cause
8.   One last hike in the Gatineau park
9.  My new fabric for my headboard arrives this weekend – this means decorating project coming right up
10.   Movies – it’s a month to catch some new flicks.
Bonus:      My Hunter rainboots arrived today – Monday, November 1st.



So all in all, we should have gratitude for November.      November is an AWESOME month providing all kinds of opportunity for cool projects, getting outside before the (really) cold weather, hooking up with some friends before all the crazy Christmas parties start, and cooking some good food.

Is anyone out there buying this?

So, what’s on your top 10 list?

Project Water

Saw my ND yesterday – had a wonderful 30 minute session of acupuncture.      She treated my adrenals and kidneys, as well as my liver and gallbladder.    Further, she also put one of those needles in my forehead to help in creating a calm, quiet and peaceful mind.     I think it worked.

One thing she told me was that “we” (the royal we, the universal we, you and me – we), should be drinking 2 to 3 liters of water A DAY!!     That’s allota watah!!!.     So, since I was working from home yesterday, I got my 4-cup measuring cup out (this is 1 litre for those who didn’t know), and I got my Brita (oh, more on that too), and I started pouring.     And drinking.      And I kept track – my aim was to drink 3 litres of water.      And I did it.    Not that bad.     And you know what?     I wasn’t at all hungry – I felt full, the whole day.   Unintentional, imagine!!     Ahh, so what they say may be true, if you want to lose weight, drink water.      A-HA.

She also shared her thoughts on Brita filters.    She explained to me that while our municipal water is treated, it is NOT treated for hormones in the water - hormones that are excreted from women on birth control pills, HRT, men on testosterone HRT, etc.    This gets into our water.       However, a charcoal filter, aka Brita, does the trick about 90%.   

So, today is Saturday, am planning on another 3-litre day.      I want to continue to assess  if this excessive water ‘thing’ has any merit with regards to how different I feel, ie. less tired, more energy, less hungry, better digestion, , etc.

In the meantime, it’s Halloween Eve.    Thought this was pretty cute - complements of Martha Stewart:



Off to a Yin class – Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…….

Yoga. Love. Inspired.

I just got home from my yoga class.      I went to a Yin class at Santosha Yoga  in Westboro.   I am so pleased with my class.   I LOVE Yin Yoga.    It’s exactly what I always thought yoga was, or should be.    I can’t wait to do it again.     And the instructor was amazing – Markus Sanchez.       If you can catch his class, highly recommend you take it.

As I was walking home, I stopped into a home decor store, and got the decorating bug.    And now, as I write this, I am watching Sarah Richardson.

I’m finding wallpaper more and more appealing.    Now, I know it’s been all-the-go, for a few years, but it’s just really hit me.      I’m itchy to decorate.     Am planning a trip up Merivale Road to a fabric store as soon as I sign off.   Good thing to do on a rainy Saturday I think.

In the meantime, some inspiration:



Love this room by Sarah Richardson.


Dining room by Sarah Richardson.

Off to the fabric store – how I love fabric.      And wallpaper, apparently.

Happy rainy Saturday afternoon.