A Fresh Start

September is a good month for me - and not just because it's my birthday month. September for me always invokes a sense of new beginnings, hope, and excitement - for a new school year, new season, and chance to settle into routine after summer's inevitable roller coaster. It's when mornings slowly become fresh and crisp again, the summer heat and muggy air dissipates, and I can start pulling out my scarves and layers for fall.

This September I'm planning on living out my fresh start in a number of different ways. I know realistically I probably won't be able to keep all of these things up, but I've decided to just go for it and take the risk of putting all my ideas out there, so here goes! (who knows, maybe I'll hold myself more accountable this way and end up doing more!?)

1. Follow the 30 meals in 30 days plan from Canadian Living (www.canadianliving.com/30meals30days) I'm aiming to take the guesswork out of meal choosing and planning, and challenging us to prepare and eat a few meals out of the comfort zone!

2. Start a 10week running plan with the goal of running a 5km race by the end. Okay, so I've technically already started this in the summer, but it's through work and it's awesome so far - not to mention I get some accountability to keep going in my desire to exercise more. Check it out here: www.teamworldvision.ca

3. Apply to go back to school. Gulp. Yes, I'm going to actually look it up and actually apply and then hopefully take a class in the fall, if I can. I've put it off for a good 2.6 years now, and it's about time I get back on finishing those CHRP courses. Look out college, hear I come!

4. Blog more. Being a good HR Rep, I'm even going to create a SMART goal for this one. I want to blog minimum once per week, for the 4 months of Sept-Dec. Doesn't have to be particular or focused, but just thoughts, put to 'paper', once every 7 days. Not necessarily even about me (not looking to become narcissistic here) but just about what's happening en la casa de merinos - for the record books, ya know?

5. Memorize Bible verses while brushing my teeth. Kind of a specific goal, but one I want to do none the less. I'll start easier, maybe revisiting previously memorized verses I don't totally recall now (thinking Psalm 8, Philippians 2 and "New Normal" verses to start). But I know I can grow a lot more in this discipline, and reading Proverbs has reminded me so much of the need to "Bind them on your hearts always";"Get wisdom, get understanding" and more.

Do you have any September beginnings waiting to be started?
Ready. Set.... GO.

r.

These are my confessions

I am a freak. I remember 1 line from a song I may have heard only a handful of times in my life and it's the first thing that pops into my head when I start to write a blog post. I can mimic-sing it, but can't tell you the name of the song, who sings it, the year it came out or anything other than that 1 line of song. Freak I tell you! (at least my husband is laughing!)

So back to why this post is titled what it is. I confess that I don't have a soup recipe for you today. Yes, that's right - soup week is actually 4 days of soup and 1 facepalm of a post. At least I waited till Friday right? (Or is that worse?)

Part of the reason why I don't have a soup recipe for you is because I cannot find the online recipe for broccoli soup that I based a broccoli spinach "cream" soup on I made a while back. I also can't remember what I did - nor did I write it down (that's where the facepalm comes in). And add to the fact that it's Friday, I'm fairly certain I am getting a cold, and it's hubby's birthday on Sunday (and I still have to get him a card!), it just didn't happen today.

To make it up to you though, here are some pictures of the last few days (think of it like a "Manic Monday but on Friday" post!)

Sushi con Mamá y Papá

My first time cooking a mini hen!

Zebra stripes, on a skirt, that feels like pjs (it's amazing).

what Sandy brought us.

Pretty colours from cooking dinner.

Very yummy half of dinner (we had soup too).

Thanks for reading!!!

r.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Manic Monday again...

In the way of Mondays, this one has been very kind. Straight forward day at work, yummy dinner (already decided and defrosted...things are so much simpler when they are planned) and dark chocolate for dessert.

best snack of all time (all it needed was a glass of red....)

No leftovers...I finally made the perfect amount of curry!

Curried chickpeas = new awesome snack from new cookbook!

Wearing your favourite shoes :)

Happy Manic Monday!
r.

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Just another manic monday

As the title of this post suggests, I am not a monday person. But I am a person who likes 80's bands that I only know the song lyrics to, and if asked, has to look them up.


I also like knitting, cooking, and long walks on the beach (okay, but seriously who doesn't like being on the beach for a long time?)

In part because I'm not a Monday person, and also because I like having regular things to do, here is the first Manic Monday photo album (that is, a bunch of pictures to make this monday even better!).

first dinner from the new cookbook!

smoothie with a secret ingredient...or two.

himym reruns... :)

new skirt!!!

r.

ps. It's the Bangles...in case you were wondering.

 

Posted with Blogsy

New Beginnings

so...it's been a while. oops! The summer has come and boom summer is gone. but I'm not complaining. I love fall, and the excitement of new starts. Doesn't hurt that September is my birthday month either!

This past weekend I had a good start to fall (in particular fall colours, as I painted my kitchen RED). Pictures to come, but so far, i'm loving it!

In addition to a hiatus, an excellent summer, and a newly painted kitchen, I've done a little bit of thinking (crazy that I found the time), as well as had some advice from my besties. I've decided to post a bit more often here, but in addition, focus more on what has become one of my passions in the past year - cooking good food!

To start off, here's a really cute home-made promo video for a cookbook that I've just ordered - I'm starting to have a problem...but more on that later!

chau,
r

Little less Conversation, Little more Picture Posting Please

so yes, that is a direct rip off of an elvis presley song in the title. it was stuck in my head when I started this post, so i thought i'd pass it on. you're welcome!

essentially i've been thinking that this blog could use a little more in the pictures dept., as well as perhaps a little more frequency in posting. so today i plan to rectify both of these...and share some of our pictures from a recent trip to Peru!

As many of you know, my wonderful hubby is originally from Peru, so whenever we get a good excuse to head south for a time, we jump at the chance. This past Dec-Jan, we had double the reason to go. My bro is actually working in Peru - check out his blog here - and my parents wanted to go and visit him, as well as see a bit of where Diego had grown up. It didn't take much convincing for us join in on the fun, and so on Jan 29, off we went to the summery south, for a whirlwind 10 day trip of visiting, New Year's celebration and a tour of Machu Picchu.

We came back with a hint of suntan, good memories, a little sleep deprivation, and A TON of pictures. let's just say between my mom, my dad, my bro, my hubby and i - we like to take a lot of pictures. and while most of the decent ones are my dad's, we all participated in this endeavour. Now you get to enjoy them! Here's a synopsis of Travelling Day and Day 1. more to come!

Here we are boarding the plane from Toronto...

this was our first flight that took us to Newark, New York. From there we flew straight to Lima (after a 3 hour layover).

Waiting in Newark with my Mom!

and here we are getting picked up from the airport in Lima!

It was beautiful and warm in Lima. But also late. We slept in the next day, but there was also lots to do and see! Here's some snapshots from Day 1.

This was the apartment of Diego's prima (cousin) Maritina, where we stayed. She ever so graciously lent to us during our stay. This shot is from just outside the front door, looking into the living/dining area.

We started off with a good Peruvian breakfast of fruit, bread with avocado and fresh cheese, eggs, homemade juice, and more fruit...sooooo yummy. I miss the fruit already.

We went walking to check out the district's market...

...and ate more fruit, right from the fruit stands (who get it from the farmers in the morning!)

Pete got his hair cut and washed for 15 soles (the equivalent of about $5)

and we watched all the action on the street. Lots of vendors selling yellow stuff for New Year's (it supposed to bring good luck to have yellow clothes - like underwear, hats, shorts, etc).

Then we went for chifa! Chifa is a mix of Chinese & Peruivan cuisine. It is VERY good, and very popular. At this particular restaurant, everything is served on this giant glass turn-table on your table, so you spin to get your food!

We took a group shot at the restaurant too.

Then we went shopping at the Artisan market - we you find the alpaca handmade stuff, and the regular touristy key chains and stuff. The best part, is that you can negotiate price...on everything. Well, as long as you know your numbers in Spanish that is!

We ended the day with a double decker bus tour around some of the districts in Lima. Lots of fun and lots to see.

chau!

-r