2013: Looking Back

2013 is almost over, but before we say goodbye I want to take a look back at the year.

So here is my giant recap of 2013.

I discovered new places. 
I was lucky enough to travel and see amazing places. I went to Riviera Maya, Mexico with my bestie, ErwanBoy and I just came back from Punta Cana, Dominican Republic with my girlfriend, Vee. Both trips were awesome! (and yes, finally you get to see my face :P) 

Blogging
I started this blog. I'd been wanting to blog for years, and hadn't gotten around it. I'm doing this because I like it and it's my own way to be creative and having fun. I'm so glad I took the plunge. 

Baking & Cooking 
Okay, so I'm no Martha Stewart... I never thought I'd say this but I'm starting to enjoy cooking. I cooked a lot more this year, resulting in more recipes on the blog. And judging from your comments (thank you!), you liked them too. 

Bring Sexy Back
Hmm... no comments? People, being frugal is HARD. I'm not perfect. I try and try and try... So on January 2nd, you will definitely find me at the gym. 

Girl meets debt

A BIG Fail. I don't even have to say something. You can all figure it out by reading some of my previous posts. 

Sigh. Depressing, right? 

Friendship
On a brighter note, I'm so thankful to have amazing people around me. Tons of wonderful memories with friends and family. 

This reminds me of what this Tarot card reader told me last summer. I've always been skeptical about esoteric, but at the same time I wanted to have this experience. She told me that I will get in touch with old friends and make few acquaintances that will eventually become close friends. This is so true. :) Oh well, she also told me that I will enter a new phase of my life filled with stability, calm energy and love. Yes, love! Ah, I guess I'm not a lost cause after all. Who knows, maybe I will find Prince Charming in 2014?

Life is always full of surprises, no way around it, it all depends on what choices you make, a good or bad one and still have to face consequences either way. I'm thrilled to see what 2014 will bring. 

Happy New Year everyone!!

Online Shopping & Me

Dear journal, 

On a recent morning, I woke up and scrolled through emails on my phone, my eyes still bleary and unfocused.   

Future Shop wanted me to know about its Boxing Week Sale. Kiehl's told me I could have a $15 gift certificate. Hudson's Bay offered me 70% off Samsonite luggage. 

I didn't even need a suitcase, but it was too good of a deal to pass up. I'm a loyal Samsonite customer. And no, this is not a sponsored post (how I wish it was). Almost any luggage will work for those who do one trip a year. But if you are like me, a frequent traveler, you use luggage (a lot!). Every Samsonite comes in a little hefty price, but it lasts and lasts. I've been all over the world with my Samsonite and it's still going strong...Enough with my sales pitch...So yeah, too good of a deal to pass up. I bought it with two clicks as my credit card info was already in its system. All this before even getting out of my bed. 

My inbox wants me to spend. 

Lately, I have been obsessed with home décor. Don't ask me why. My colleague is renovating her house so we have been looking for online deals for quite awhile. Yup, totally obsessed ever since.  

I bought a duvet cover from West Elm (yes, finally in Montreal). The store is located in a very up and coming part of Griffintown. 

I also ordered a canvas print of Van Gogh's Cafe Terrace (I kind of have a soft spot for Van Gogh). I bought it on Joss & Main. LOVE this store. If you're unfamiliar with Joss & Main, it's a flash sale site that offers new curated sales each day many times at up to 70% off retail! You are sure to find unique piece that you won't see in any home. 

I also ordered this Tangiers rug in ivory (Joss & Main). 

Last but not least, I bought this black console table @ Kasa Living. I actually went to the store to get it. Note: their customer service is horrible (and trust me, I'm not a difficult person). 

Sigh. Victim of marketing? Yes, that would be me. 

I'm so screwed (and so very broke). 

Easy snack: No-Bake Granola Bites

Busy day? 

No time for breakfast? 

These no bake granola bar bites are perfect snack. 

photo: melskitchencafe.com

I got this recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe. They are incredibly easy to make!! You don't even need to turn on the oven. All you do is mix the ingredients together, roll into balls and refrigerate. 

Ingredients:
Note: Feel free to play around with the ingredients (adding dried fruit, coconut, chocolate, etc...) 

1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup chopped almonds
3/4 cup quick oats
1/3 cup roasted cashew nuts
1/3 cup crunchy almond butter
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla


Just love these granola bites! They are so easy to make and are very tasty. 

Here's the result: 

Optional: I processed all my dried ingredients in the food processor for few seconds.

Enjoy!

Merry Christmas!!

You know, some people go bananas over Christmas.

They put up their decorations the day after Halloween, they play Christmas music all day, every day. Well, I'm not really one those people. Okay, I'm not a scrooge..I do enjoy Christmas, but I'm not as much crazy as some people.

But I must say - I do love a good Christmas movie. I love sitting on my couch, in my pj's, slapping on a pair of wool socks, sipping on my coffee and watching whatever classic is on TV at the moment. You know there's something about watching it on TV vs DVD. 

So there are a few movies that I love to watch. Here's my list of movies that I can't go a Christmas year without watching. 

Some oldies but goodies:

Home Alone

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

Miracle on 34th street

While you were sleeping

Die Hard

I also love Hallmark Holiday movies:

A princess for Christmas

Christmas with holly

Annie Claus is Coming to Town

There are just so many! 

Happy holidays everyone!

Music Around The World

I love Indie/pop music. 

It's fun, it's different and it gives you something to smile about during the long winter days. Here are some of my favorite songs that always bring me a happy and comforting mood. Check this out. 

From Canada

Feist and Coeur de Pirate are my favorites.

 


USA

Need to be uplifted? Take a dose of Mindy Gledhill. I just LOVE her. It's happy music. It makes you want to cuddle up in a blanket and drink hot chocolate. Her music makes me feel like things are going to be okay (and sometimes we just need to be reminded of that). 

 

I've been crushing on Pharrell for years. I just love him!

UK

South Korea
Okay, I REALLY love anything from South Korea. Kpop, Kdrama, Korean BBQ, you name it. I'm kind of obsess... I just love their MV. 

I'm back!

I'm officially back!! 

Sorry guys I have been MIA for a while. I'm seriously surprised at the hits I still got. It lets me know some of you love this thing I do enough to keep checking on me. Thank you. 

So what's new? A lot. (and to answer THE question: I'm still single)... I'll tell you all in my next posts but first thing first... I'm off for two weeks! yay no more work!! woot woot. 

Okay, so it's Sunday and I woke up to a blanket of snow. Let's say that today is a staying-in-my-pj's kind of day. I made my peanut butter hot chocolate (recipe from missglamorazzi) and I'm ready to watch Christmas movies. :)

Feel guilty? Ah! Here's the healthy version: 

More to come!!