tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14287748297809985102024-03-12T22:29:41.760-04:00Love Live Survive HomeYasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-87491910111972426232015-08-07T09:25:00.001-04:002015-08-07T09:26:05.018-04:00New IKEA 2016 Catalog is here !<br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You already know that I
love Ikea for so many reasons. I love it so much that I’m posting this after a
very, very long pause in my blog! Each year I'm patiently waiting for the new
catalog - it's like this old crazy habit of mine, can't help it. Looking through
the new Ikea catalog = JOY!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So click on the picture below and
flip through the pages of a new Ikea catalog chock-full of inspiration.
</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can also </span><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/home/IKEA%20Catalog?preview=IKEA-2016-Catalog.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">download IKEA 2016 catalog here</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> as pdf file. Enjoy!</span> </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://issuu.com/homedesigning/docs/ikea/1?e=12860595/14465293" target="_blank"><img alt="IKEA 2016 Catalog" border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ic84wiOs_w4/VcSukLLwSeI/AAAAAAAAJAE/8tPNsF9Ght4/s640/IKEA%2Bcatalog%2B2016.jpg" width="624" /></a></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">P.S. Life is good
again, see you very soon!</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">xoxo Yasmine</span>Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-13771157639861323372012-10-20T23:24:00.000-04:002012-10-20T23:29:09.315-04:00Keeping Priorities Straight<div style="text-align: justify;">
I feel as if I'm almost sneaking back in to my own blog. And in certain way I am, after exactly one year of not blogging at all. I'm still here but I had to choose my priorities in difficult times I had and blogging did not made the list. Last fall my energy went definitely down the drain, so much so that I had to restrain all my activities except going to work. My problems with the sleeping weren't helping either. And then my dear husband was diagnosed with a condition that required special attention in order to reduce possible risks involved. It took some time to adapt to the new way of grocery shopping and cooking. But we made it once again together and things are looking brighter.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--TkVNi3O4Kw/UINqcN0sdlI/AAAAAAAAI14/Q80uEvVYWN8/s1600/Sweet+autumn+Quebec.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--TkVNi3O4Kw/UINqcN0sdlI/AAAAAAAAI14/Q80uEvVYWN8/s640/Sweet+autumn+Quebec.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then last February my boss accepted another job and asked me to go with her. I was more then thrilled to say yes ! On one side I was really sad to leave the joyful bunch of wonderful girls I worked with. But on the other side I love to work with my boss, she's so awesome, and I wasn't ready to take a risk and to have to work with someone I eventually don't get along so good. I made a smart decision in the end because my new job isn't so stressful as the old one and my work place is nicer too. That certainly helped me recover a bit but my sleep disorder continues to drain my energy.</div>
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I checked from time to time the blogosphere but wasn't able to follow everything I would've liked to. To my great surprise, a dear blogger friend <a href="http://littlehouseinparadise.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Sherri </a>wrote to me this summer and wanted to know if I was doing all right. I was in awe of this kind of kindness, just incredible, thank you Sherri ! </div>
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I sincerely missed posting on my blog for many reasons but the most important one is the dialogue I'm having with all of you. Even if you don't leave a comment I appreciate you passing by and reading my thoughts on life and other wonders. Isn't it promising that blogging made my list of priorities again?!</div>
Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-47509839845990937362011-10-16T23:19:00.000-04:002011-10-16T23:19:31.609-04:00About Clouds, Flowers and DreamsIt seems that my perception of time is slightly of lately. By lately, I mean months... It's possibly due to my lack of sleep and other joys of getting older. Am I slowing down of sorts? I sure enjoy little musings and off time more then before, and I'm not even feeling guilty about it! Last week we had some lovely autumn weather and I thoroughly enjoyed laying on my chaise longue contemplating my last flowers and watching clouds passing by.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PmQlfOL7vpk/TpuYwkqgyvI/AAAAAAAAIyg/G-rse2MZUl8/s1600/Last+Flowers+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PmQlfOL7vpk/TpuYwkqgyvI/AAAAAAAAIyg/G-rse2MZUl8/s640/Last+Flowers+2011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>They were so fluffy, creamy and sugary that I was seriously tempted to fulfill my childhood dream and climb on them with a spoon to eat them.<br />
Yeah, I was firmly convinced that the clouds were made of tons of whipped cream.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3ON-3Npwk4w/TpucRC6ji5I/AAAAAAAAIys/kaP2-ekMW08/s1600/Creamy+sugary+clouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3ON-3Npwk4w/TpucRC6ji5I/AAAAAAAAIys/kaP2-ekMW08/s640/Creamy+sugary+clouds.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> So much beauty in the moment, transformed to happiness of one dreaming hearth...Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-5211167556812040752011-08-21T20:29:00.001-04:002011-08-21T20:32:44.787-04:00Wild and Wonderful World of Jean Paul Gaultier<div style="text-align: justify;">If you visit my blog from time to time, you already know that I'm not a prolific blogger. When I started my blog in 2009, I taught I would make a new post at least three times a week. Well, it didn't work out that way for many reasons and I felt guilty all the time. Then I remembered why I started blogging in the first place: to practice my "movie" English! And also to be a part of the wonderful blogging community by sharing little things from my life. So I'll continue blogging this way and I hope you'll continue visiting...I appreciate it so much!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I had my birthday earlier this month (numbers are not important) and since I was on vacation, I went to see the first international exhibition devoted to the celebrated couturier Jean Paul Gaultier in the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts: <a href="http://www.mbam.qc.ca/jpg/en/index.html"><i>The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk </i></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Bp1f-Zw_LU/TlGPvk5sYeI/AAAAAAAAIxY/OE3j9sr_ow8/s1600/Jean-Paul+Gaultier+Exibition+Montr%25C3%25A9al+-118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Bp1f-Zw_LU/TlGPvk5sYeI/AAAAAAAAIxY/OE3j9sr_ow8/s640/Jean-Paul+Gaultier+Exibition+Montr%25C3%25A9al+-118.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My interest in fashion is a remnant of a dream that I never pursued. As a very young girl, I wanted to study textile arts, fabric and fashion but my parents wouldn't approve my choice at the time and so I studied German language (my second love) and became a teacher. I wasn't really obsessed by fashion, I was rather fascinated by the art of creation and transformation of materials into something original and wearable. I did learn to sew and I still do it from time to time, but I never did what I really wanted to do with my talents and passion.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s-PXg93ZIV4/TlGTVwB88JI/AAAAAAAAIxo/_Ia-z8ojdWk/s1600/Jean-Paul+Gaultier+Exibition+Montr%25C3%25A9al+-216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s-PXg93ZIV4/TlGTVwB88JI/AAAAAAAAIxo/_Ia-z8ojdWk/s640/Jean-Paul+Gaultier+Exibition+Montr%25C3%25A9al+-216.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Trough the years of having an eye on fashion, I started to love and appreciate the incredible work of Jean Paul Gaultier. So it was clear for me that I couldn't miss the wonderful opportunity to see his work presented in the first international exhibition devoted to the celebrated French couturier.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I went to museum in the company of my daughter who also loves fashion. We were both smitten by his talent, inspired by creativity, passion and exquisite attention to detail of his <i>haute couture</i> creations that are truly pieces of art.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sBra_Vd6PFg/TknJTE5GzWI/AAAAAAAAIlc/UNlefY0rmzc/s1600/Jean-Paul+Gaultier+Exibition+Montr%25C3%25A9al+-190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sBra_Vd6PFg/TknJTE5GzWI/AAAAAAAAIlc/UNlefY0rmzc/s640/Jean-Paul+Gaultier+Exibition+Montr%25C3%25A9al+-190.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Several times during the exhibition I was moved to tears by his originality and craftsmanship. I loved the exhibition so much that I plan to go see it again before it ends October 2nd. If you have a chance go and visit the exhibition, I highly recommend it not only for Gaultiers impressive work but also for the exposition itself and its particularly innovative theatrical <i>mise en scène</i> and multimedia approach and animated mannequins - stunning!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I invite you to see the pictures I took during my visit <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lovelivesurvivehome/JeanPaulGaultierExibitInMontreal">here</a>. Click on <i>Slideshow</i> to see the details. Enjoy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-70039711690431328802011-07-22T19:31:00.002-04:002011-07-22T19:38:58.022-04:00IKEA Catalog 2012 is here !<a href="http://onlinecatalog.ikea-usa.com/US/en/2012/IKEA_Catalog/?page=1&ref=blogger">IKEA Catalog 2012</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://onlinecatalog.ikea-usa.com/US/en/2012/IKEA_Catalog/"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnJEPh7v1zAEhR9Y7EqA2Gi30zFgLULxzgDGitKtqUSm3tGzerfBtT8QxQDJJbWl2IsHgEytgU-74phsLDHEXJ_pMGYPWkUW1TCsN0lkrrXEVV2mpNzBgO6T8NJqWCsNzsznbdV9E8zQz/s640/Ikea+catalog+2012.JPG" width="550" /></a></div> I never mentioned it but I love, love Ikea for so many reasons. Each year I'm patiently waiting for the new catalog - it's like this old crazy habit of mine, can't help it. Looking trough the new Ikea catalog=joy!<br />
So click on the picture and flip trough the pages chock-full of inspiration...enjoy! Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-79065257745460596312011-07-16T08:13:00.002-04:002011-07-16T08:21:22.119-04:00Fruity Summer Cake RecipesI was just searching for the recipe to use the raspberries I have when I stumbled upon Sweet Paul's digital magazine. What a delight! This summer issue is full of delicious treats, lovely DIY ideas with instructions and everything is so beautifully photographed too.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T0vSVLUJBNw/TiF2DI3HKaI/AAAAAAAAIdw/afrD1PUHWKc/s1600/Raspberry+Tarts+with+Mascarpone+Cream+-+sweet+paul+mag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T0vSVLUJBNw/TiF2DI3HKaI/AAAAAAAAIdw/afrD1PUHWKc/s640/Raspberry+Tarts+with+Mascarpone+Cream+-+sweet+paul+mag.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you are not familiar with Paul Lowe's work (I sure wasn't), he is a New York based food and interior stylist whose very successful <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20http://sweetpaul.typepad.com/">blog</a> is also worth bookmarking. Get your dose of summer by flipping through the gorgeous summer issue of <a href="http://www.sweetpaulmag-digital.com/sweetpaulmag/summer2011#pg1">Sweet Paul Magazine</a>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sweetpaulmag-digital.com/sweetpaulmag/summer2011#pg1"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aO6P0kRTq8s/TiF985bLUGI/AAAAAAAAId4/59834IpksdU/s640/sweetpaulmag+summer+2011.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm off to make those divine raspberry tarts with mascarpone cream filling. Enjoy your weekend!<br />
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P.S. Some more summer delights for you to make : <a href="http://blisstree.com/eat/50-best-summer-cake-recipes/gallery-page/1/">50 Best Summer Cake Recipes</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-73125560033503904922011-07-08T23:55:00.005-04:002011-07-09T07:04:08.405-04:00Simple Photo Editing SoftwareIf you have a blog, you most certainly have to take, edit and post photos. If by any chance you have and use Photoshop, this post is not meant for you. I wanted to share with you the simple and comprehensive photo editing software I use. If I take a photo and it absolutely must be edited before posting, I don't like to spend hours doing it because first, I'm am not overly patient and second, my skills being limited, I can't make it perfect and I don't see need to do so. The software I use is <a href="http://www.irfanview.com/">IrfanView</a>. This image viewer and editor is my longtime favorite, and with good reason. IrfanView is simple, fast, and free.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LEjX2-oapf0/ThfJltSlBMI/AAAAAAAAIdE/0ryhk3CsMk4/s1600/My+garden+2011+-+Rosa+John+Cabot+and+Alchemilla+mollis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LEjX2-oapf0/ThfJltSlBMI/AAAAAAAAIdE/0ryhk3CsMk4/s640/My+garden+2011+-+Rosa+John+Cabot+and+Alchemilla+mollis.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>This program lets you open and edit images : cut and crop, apply batch conversions, add, sharpen, or blur effects, create panoramas and change color modes easily. The interface is not fancy but I find it simple and intuitive, it should be easy enough for most users to figure out. It contains simple Erase, Draw, Fill, Rotate, Draw an Arrow, and Color Picker commands. You have to download it and install it on your computer, but it's very light, only 1,5 Mb. You can easily find online an IrfanView tutorial for beginners.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tTo80wzeYgI/ThfOzan9qfI/AAAAAAAAIdU/W-67jKn_EuM/s1600/My+garden+2011+-+Tradescantia+and+Achillea+%2527Moonshine%2527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tTo80wzeYgI/ThfOzan9qfI/AAAAAAAAIdU/W-67jKn_EuM/s640/My+garden+2011+-+Tradescantia+and+Achillea+%2527Moonshine%2527.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The other one I love for many reasons and use very often is <a href="http://picasa.google.com/">Picasa</a> from Google - great editor and picture manager. This one must be installed on your computer too.</div><br />
There are also many excellent and free online photo editors. <a href="http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/online-photoshop-alternatives-photo-editing/">Here</a> is the collection of 10 online Photoshop alternatives for simple photo editing. Have fun!Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-37959456749072483712011-06-30T23:55:00.003-04:002011-07-16T12:29:22.178-04:00My Heart is Overflowing<div style="text-align: justify;">This is a thing I rarely admit to anyone: I love people. Just like that, people in my everyday life or even people I read about. I so love people who are nice to others and to the world in general, who made a discovery benefiting to the humanity or who just help an old women cross the street, those who make us laugh I love dearly and those, men AND women, who are able to give an uplifting compliment to every women they know, hence to every human being they know - we all need it. I have this thing, this moment when I feel my heart overflowing with love and joy and in some of this situations I have to restrain myself from hugging people around me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uDg311WXFj8/TiG8HuEWJrI/AAAAAAAAIeA/Ha9whZdFD7w/s1600/Cupcakes+made+for+Janie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uDg311WXFj8/TiG8HuEWJrI/AAAAAAAAIeA/Ha9whZdFD7w/s640/Cupcakes+made+for+Janie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now don't get me wrong, I've been hurt by people and I suffered but I forget easily and I simply am not able to hate - I'm so happy about it!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I too love doing nice things for people around me. Just last week I made some "faux" cupcakes for the birthday of a young girl I work with. I bought brownies but I decorated them with cheese frosting and colorful sugar sprinkles. Everybody loved them, but there was a young girl who is allergic to peanuts and she couldn't eat them, didn't want to take a chance with bought brownies. So I decided to make it up to her and I baked cupcakes myself, decorated them exactly like those brownies before and brought them to her in the beginning of this week. She was flabbergasted! She couldn't believe I've made those especially for her. I got a big hug and she was so happy, she even called her mom and her friends to tell them about it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But to tell you the truth, I'm the one who has gotten the most from it: one of those priceless moments that fill your hearth with joy...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-28537571191560170002011-06-26T23:40:00.001-04:002011-07-09T09:13:45.683-04:00Down And Back Again<div style="text-align: justify;">It feels almost weird to write a blog post again but I'm so glad I'm back. Last couple of months were a bit of a roller coaster. I was struggling to maintain my daily schedule and the little energy I had went to my job, after that I was like a balloon without air. I knew it must have been a matter of health but I couldn’t find the time to go see my family doctor - you know how it is with a new job. And usually when something goes wrong in life, it's an easy downward spiral from thereon. And I went on neglecting the warning signs my body sent me until I fell unconscious and ended being transported to the emergency room. I was diagnosed with anemia, the kind that develops when the body has had a low level of iron for a long time.Two blood transfusion later I was able to go home. It took me almost another week at home to start to function normally and to slowly go back to work. There is really nothing intelligent I can say about my self-neglecting (read: stupid) behavior. I can only hope that I learned my lesson.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-anGvMWMt9mo/TgfvaDJTTSI/AAAAAAAAIb0/RkQI9GpHJbs/s1600/From+my+garden+-+spring+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cp4Gdldc5tc/ThhT1kDh2fI/AAAAAAAAIdg/7xFzZCB8PT8/s1600/From+the+Parlament+parc+Quebec+-+spring+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cp4Gdldc5tc/ThhT1kDh2fI/AAAAAAAAIdg/7xFzZCB8PT8/s640/From+the+Parlament+parc+Quebec+-+spring+2011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Why is it that sometimes you have to loose something in order to learn to really appreciate it? Like your health...or other things money can't buy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">On a more cheerful note: am I the last one who learned about <a href="http://pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a>? When I came back to the blogland, the buzz war all about pinning, everywhere! Learn more about it <a href="http://pinterest.com/about/">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/"><img border="0" height="414" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vpPR5ZREDB8/Tgf3yveZPnI/AAAAAAAAIcE/WZAK-bwJDq8/s640/Pinterest.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Needless to say, to an image junkie like me this is the most needed source of daily dose of inspiration.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Thanks for visiting and please stay healthy!</div>Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-67842166556396269482011-02-17T22:10:00.006-05:002011-02-18T22:27:00.908-05:00Salvation Art - part four<div style="text-align: justify;">It's been quite a while since I last bragged about my little <a href="http://lovelivesurvivehome.blogspot.com/search/label/salvation%20art">"Salvation Art"</a><i> </i>collection. So here it goes again!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is an oil painting that I found about ten years ago in a little shop that doesn't exist any more. When I saw it I was immediately transported by it's atmosphere to the narrow streets of my beloved <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istria">Istria </a>and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalmatia">Dalmatia</a>. I saw myself strolling slowly in the late afternoon sun, listening to the sounds and voices coming from open windows, being comforted by the sight of the clothes moving gracefully in the wind on the clotheslines suspended between the old stone houses...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ylmr5mH01tI/TV3EAWTQHqI/AAAAAAAAIXA/oMpHYNIlMZo/s1600/Salvation+art_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ylmr5mH01tI/TV3EAWTQHqI/AAAAAAAAIXA/oMpHYNIlMZo/s640/Salvation+art_5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I decided to buy it right away, I think I paid about 15$ for it - my second most expensive Salvation Art piece! It's about 90 cm by 60 cm (3 ft x2 ft) and signed by "Etta". I couldn't find out more about the artist, there is an American artist Etta Deikman but I haven't been able to establish the link between her and this painting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jeC-DHBj84M/TV3aOpP6WgI/AAAAAAAAIXI/-W8W5ZLGVAA/s1600/Salvation+art_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jeC-DHBj84M/TV3aOpP6WgI/AAAAAAAAIXI/-W8W5ZLGVAA/s640/Salvation+art_4.jpg" width="472" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I love to look at it and I'm still stunned by the calming effect it has on me. Can't change it, I'm a romantic, nostalgic fool... I'm already looking forward to show you my next piece of found art!</div>Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-42293249228865964132011-02-12T13:43:00.001-05:002011-02-12T13:46:28.474-05:00Quick & Simple Heart-Shaped Dessert Recipe For Valentine’s Day<div style="text-align: justify;">Scratching your head in search of last minute idea for something simple and very quick to make for your loved ones? Me too! So it happened that I remembered a simple recipe for a very versatile dough I used to make long time ago. Added an apple, some brown sugar and cinnamon and here is the result:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yg2JuYFJYkE/TVbVdJw8ybI/AAAAAAAAIWQ/koR4yQOjicU/s1600/Quick+Heart-Shaped+Dessert_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yg2JuYFJYkE/TVbVdJw8ybI/AAAAAAAAIWQ/koR4yQOjicU/s640/Quick+Heart-Shaped+Dessert_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I think it looks lovely and certainly handmade but it took me less than 1 hour, with baking time, to finish it. As for the dough recipe, you'll need the same amount in weight of cottage cheese, margarine and flour. Nothing else, no eggs, no salt, no sugar...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zKWM5hHSBMY/TVa7DW-5bdI/AAAAAAAAIV0/IC4U1o1DtQQ/s1600/Quick+Heart-Shaped+Dessert_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zKWM5hHSBMY/TVa7DW-5bdI/AAAAAAAAIV0/IC4U1o1DtQQ/s640/Quick+Heart-Shaped+Dessert_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I made the dough with 250 g of each. If your cottage cheese is to grainy you'll need to make it smoother with a hand blender or in the food processor. Add the margarine and mix well - mixing thoroughly with a fork is OK. Add the flour and continue to blend the ingredients with a fork or with the wooden spoon. If your dough feels to wet add a bit of flour.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-49KozucT4w0/TVa9E9AAdPI/AAAAAAAAIV8/ahSjxgp437U/s1600/Quick+Heart-Shaped+Dessert_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-49KozucT4w0/TVa9E9AAdPI/AAAAAAAAIV8/ahSjxgp437U/s640/Quick+Heart-Shaped+Dessert_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Roll the dough out on the floured surface approximately 0,5 cm thick (1/5 of an inch), cut the hearths with a cookie cutter and place them on the baking sheet. Sprinkle each heart with some brown sugar and cinnamon if you like. Cut a small apple into thin slices and place 2 of them on each heart. Bake them in the oven on 380° F/180<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">°</span> C for 25-30 minutes. I wanted to color some apple slices in red but didn't have any red food coloring left so I mixed some strawberry jelly powder with water and brushed the apple slices. Let them cool a bit and dust with icing sugar. If you want to make something more fancy <a href="http://lovelivesurvivehome.blogspot.com/2010/01/heart-shaped-dessert-recipes-for.html">here</a> is my Valentine's blog post from last year. Bon appetit!</div>Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-22031389058914625622011-02-07T21:53:00.002-05:002011-02-13T19:06:07.187-05:00Building An Ice Palace<div style="text-align: justify;">So I guess I WAS completely frozen in the end. Maybe not because of the freezing weather... I just read my last post and thought to myself that, in those almost two months since I didn't give a sign of life, the situation didn't change much. I continued to struggle and to ask myself if I made the right decision. This really was a big change for me and it isn't over yet. What frightens me is that on the one side I appreciate the security and the stability of the job but on the other side I am overwhelmed by the desire to do something big and crazy. Like moving (again!) far away. Or creating my own company. Both of the ideas sound tempting and frightening at the same time. It's almost like a life decade thing. In my twenties I did the usual: studying, marrying and having kids. In mu thirties I started a new life and a new career in Germany. In my forties, I came to Canada and started another, completely new life and career. Well, okay, I didn't change my husband nor my kids, but everything else was new.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3RLktAIHy8E/TVhxV40hBTI/AAAAAAAAIWk/z_nqI3Xi8eQ/s1600/Winter+in+Quebec4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3RLktAIHy8E/TVhxV40hBTI/AAAAAAAAIWk/z_nqI3Xi8eQ/s640/Winter+in+Quebec4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>As I was taking a walk last week near my work place, I was passing by a construction site of the <a href="http://www.carnaval.qc.ca/en/about/traditions/bonhomme-and-knuks">"Bonhomme Carnaval"</a> Ice Palace. It struck me that I was given the opportunity to build my life like the ice palace. I had to work hard and in difficult circumstances in order to build something strong and beautiful for my family. But unfortunately it couldn't last, so I had to do it all over again.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n9H7sWo8Jbc/TVhxgafJ5UI/AAAAAAAAIWo/hFwg58eiYe8/s1600/Winter+in+Quebec2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n9H7sWo8Jbc/TVhxgafJ5UI/AAAAAAAAIWo/hFwg58eiYe8/s640/Winter+in+Quebec2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Sure It was different each time but beautiful non the less. I'm very proud actually of those palaces I had built even if they weren't meant to last. Am I ready to tackle a new one? I sure miss the excitement of it!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Syb9BY-kG90/TVhxrYLIxWI/AAAAAAAAIWs/lX45swqtXiI/s1600/Winter+in+Quebec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Syb9BY-kG90/TVhxrYLIxWI/AAAAAAAAIWs/lX45swqtXiI/s640/Winter+in+Quebec.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>And as someone said it so wisely: change is the only constant thing in life... Thank you for being so patient with me!</div>Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-31192962488346909152010-12-14T19:45:00.001-05:002010-12-14T19:48:12.371-05:00Not Completely Frozen Yet<div style="text-align: justify;">Since my last post the time has passed in a blink of an eye. I was hit by the train at full speed, or so it felt, and I'm still gasping for air. Everything happened so quickly and I found myself in a completely new work environment, with new people and new challenges. This was what I wanted for a long time but when I finally got there it was like I wasn't ready for it. I started to feel some kind of weird resistance in my gut and my whole body turned against this "newness". I'll be honest with you, I never ever felt something like this, I was always up for a challenge. In fact, earlier in my life, any challenge would give me strength and motivation to fight and to work hard in order to achieve my goal. This time was very different. It was almost like I had enough of challenges in my life, I couldn't take it any more. Completely new experience...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TQdYZJ6XJBI/AAAAAAAAITQ/x3cKLdutnIE/s1600/Quebec+-+Place+d%2527Youville.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TQdYZJ6XJBI/AAAAAAAAITQ/x3cKLdutnIE/s640/Quebec+-+Place+d%2527Youville.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Four weeks later, things are going better but I still can't get rid of this weird feeling. It may sound weird to you, but I rarely did things for myself, because I wanted it for ME - it was usually for my family, for my children or for any other reason. This last decision was not different. And this is exactly the thing I have to change, the time has come. Happily, I'll have ten days off for Christmas. Enough time to think things through but also to enjoy beautiful white Christmas in the city of Quebec...</div>Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-2670893589161004772010-11-04T23:59:00.001-04:002010-11-05T06:07:35.139-04:00About Those Lemons Life Gave Me<div style="text-align: justify;">Well, I must say, I had my share of lemons and I haven't always been able to make lemonade from them. But I surely learned quickly enough that you have to deal with the cards you are dealt. Or, as someone said : "It is not the cards you are dealt, but is how you play them." You can sit and complain about it and wait for change to happen, eventually. Or you can grab the bull by the horns and make something out of it, sometimes even make the best of it. And I sat and cried, believe me, often enough. And I complained about injustice and bad luck. It didn't change a thing. So I wiped my tears, analyzed my options, took a best guess and acted upon it. Oh, yes, it's infinitely easier not to move at all and to let yourself drown in self pity. But it is also a spiral staircase down to not worthy existence. The choice is always yours and you always have one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TNN4Nlh6SZI/AAAAAAAAISg/C2Pp84lVFLI/s1600/Bucket+of+lemons+-+Etsy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="504" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TNN4Nlh6SZI/AAAAAAAAISg/C2Pp84lVFLI/s640/Bucket+of+lemons+-+Etsy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Image source : <a href="http://www.etsy.com/storque/handmade-life/when-life-gives-you-lemons-preserve-them-with-the-author-of--8884/">Etsy</a></span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the last 12 months or so, my life changed drastically after leaving a job that made me totally unhappy. It was as if the ground under my feet disappeared. I was standing on the crossroads with no signposts. I was looking for directions and I found them not outside, but inside of me. The long road took me on the journey to a completely new territory. I lowered my expectations towards myself (I'm so happy about it now), I got a new diploma (I'm so happy about it now too), I sent my new resume to places I wanted to work for (boy, am I happy about this one now!) and I didn't know until recently if I did the right thing or not. It turns out, I passed all the exams for all the jobs I wanted and now I get to choose the place I would like to work for. My head is spinning like crazy in the last 2 weeks, I can't believe that this is happening to ME! I finally get to drink that lemonade I made from all those lemons life gave me...</div>Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-58618426400371279732010-09-29T22:56:00.000-04:002010-09-29T22:56:52.027-04:00Where I'm Coming FromI have been blogging since last September more or less regularly (hey, I forgot the first blogoversary!). My preoccupations changed from one post to another but one thing keeps bothering me throughout this experience. I feel like I'm keeping a very big secret from you. Actually, I am. I did mention little things here and there but I never gave you the whole picture. I'm talking about my "Forrest Gump" life experience. I think I'm ready now to let you know more about me and my family.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TKP1JO3xznI/AAAAAAAAIRg/9AVC_VyJdnM/s1600/littlehouseinparadise.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TKP1JO3xznI/AAAAAAAAIRg/9AVC_VyJdnM/s640/littlehouseinparadise.blogspot.com.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Image source : </span></i><a href="http://littlehouseinparadise.blogspot.com/"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">http://littlehouseinparadise.blogspot.com</span></i></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> My fellow blogger Zhu made a nice interview with me some time ago and so, instead of writing everything once again here, I invite you to go over to her wonderful blog and read <a href="http://correresmidestino.com/yasmine/">her post</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">P.S. Sherri, I didn't ask for permission to use your image, hope you're ok with it. I simply couldn't resist, it reminded me of things my mother used to make when she was young.</div>Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-12290068783697926152010-09-22T21:17:00.000-04:002010-09-22T21:17:39.213-04:00Time Is Flying Faster Than Ever<div style="text-align: justify;">Apparently, I'm not the only one thinking about time, I just joined the whole humanity. Seriously, there is so much written about it out there that my head started spinning from all the theories. Is there an absolute truth about this phenomenon? I seriously doubt it. What initiated my curiosity is this very strong feeling I have as of lately that time is just rushing by, not measured by hours and days any more but rather by years and decades. Suddenly, it's like the countdown started going backwards to an unknown last number. I don't like this feeling, it's weighing me down, paralyzing my dreams. I'm constantly questioning myself about the sense of everything I do. I've got to engage in something creatively productive, I need to start making things with my hands, transforming a raw material in something useful - my office job just doesn't cut it any more.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Enough of being smart and philosophical! Autumn is coming slowly and it's beautiful. Definitely my season of choice here in Canada. I love everything about it : colors, light, temperature, smell of fallen leaves and rain - yes, especially rain. I think I'll go out and finally buy a pair of rubber boots for myself. And if I was courageous enough it would be <a href="http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00LMAElVaGstbk/Rubber-Boots-BT-09-.jpg">those</a>, with a matching umbrella. I love to jump from one puddle to another, going trough the leaves gathered by the wind...</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I didn't make my last flower arrangement of the season yet, but I think I've got my last tomatoes and peppers...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TJlqM5rJWZI/AAAAAAAAIRA/yjbbnFiWVo8/s1600/Last+veggies+from+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TJlqM5rJWZI/AAAAAAAAIRA/yjbbnFiWVo8/s640/Last+veggies+from+garden.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>My office moved last week to another building, much closer to my house. We were packing for weeks and moving trough the mountains of boxes trying to follow the normal work routine. This week, the first in the new place, everyone was looking for something, many things got yet to be organized and installed. Today I was told that we have to be patient for the next 10 to 15 days. No problem! Patience is my middle name.Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-16811030318407538602010-09-08T21:07:00.000-04:002010-09-08T21:07:41.299-04:00With a Little Help From My FriendsThank you <a href="http://littlehouseinparadise.blogspot.com/">Sherri </a> for remembering me in your prayers, I think it worked. I felt your virtual hug and I thank you for that. Thank you too, <a href="http://correresmidestino.com/">Zhu</a>, my fellow blogger, for being there for me.<br />
Strangely enough, the day after my last blog post, I got to pick up my computer. Finally! They changed the motherboard and the CPU but luckily my data were intact. My little corner of the world is OK again, at least the virtual one. Thank you, thank you, thank you...<br />
The other thing I'm thankful for is my new job. I landed in a small team of very nice people and although I've joined them in the most stressful period of the year, they never forget to let me feel welcome, accepted and appreciated. I was particularly satisfied (and proud !) today, after my boss gave the press conference this morning and I got to see my work on the TV tonight. How cool is that?!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TIgx0LxCsZI/AAAAAAAAIQI/2H9SsnpWrXU/s1600/Tortue+au+Parc+Maizerets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TIgx0LxCsZI/AAAAAAAAIQI/2H9SsnpWrXU/s640/Tortue+au+Parc+Maizerets.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I know my compass was often demagnetized lately and I didn't see the direction clearly. I wasn't living by numbers anyway, so anything is possible. I don't feel the road under my feet right now, it's more like I'm going over the river by walking from one stone to another, setting my foot carefully, trying not to fall into the cold water. I now I can make it...Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-49935949460336194512010-09-02T22:49:00.000-04:002010-09-02T22:49:00.164-04:00Here is the deal...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">...I'm offering you the following: </span></span><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">washer and dryer</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">dishwasher</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">swimming pool</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><s>my husband</s></span></span></li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">But, please, please, give me back MY COMPUTER!!! I need it so bad! I </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">can't even start to tell you the (horor) story about the reparation of my computer, I'd rather wait to h</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">ave it (him?!) back in my arms... After I've lost my computer everything else crushed down: my husband's laptop and even the Internet connexion... The laptop was reestablished yesterday and today the Internet came back, after a hefty fight with the provider. And here I am writing on my blog and trying not to sound too frustrated.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TIBd5HQSGsI/AAAAAAAAIPo/IDw-teChJtw/s1600/Office+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TIBd5HQSGsI/AAAAAAAAIPo/IDw-teChJtw/s640/Office+view.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Nothing is going so smoothly lately, I'm having a bumpy ride - but, hey, what else is new? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">And then there was this special and sad day last week: my sister's first birthday in heaven. I miss her so much...if only I could just </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">call her and talk to her for hours about everything and nothing...happy birthday sis, wherever you are.</span></div>Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-62041320202282125262010-08-24T05:53:00.006-04:002010-08-25T06:25:59.802-04:00Owning My TimeWhy is it we don't appreciate what we have until it's gone? Like some people around us, time for ourselves or youth? Sigh, don't let me even started on the last one...<br />
Today I wanted to share with you a wonderful article written by Mary Schmich for <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/">Chicago Tribune</a> in June 1997. I wish I new some (or all!) of this things when I was 20 year old!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/THTuBbWM4XI/AAAAAAAAIPI/LeLuFlrpT7s/s1600/Owning+my+time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/THTuBbWM4XI/AAAAAAAAIPI/LeLuFlrpT7s/s640/Owning+my+time.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Never to late to learn some things, though...here it goes:<br />
<br />
<i>"<b>Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young</b> <br />
Inside every adult lurks a graduation speaker dying to get out, some world-weary pundit eager to pontificate on life to young people who'd rather be Rollerblading. Most of us, alas, will never be invited to sow our words of wisdom among an audience of caps and gowns, but there's no reason we can't entertain ourselves by composing a Guide to Life for Graduates.<br />
<br />
I encourage anyone over 26 to try this and thank you for indulging my attempt.Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '97:<br />
<br />
Wear sunscreen.<br />
<br />
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.<br />
<br />
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.<br />
<br />
Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.<br />
<br />
Do one thing every day that scares you.<br />
<br />
Sing.<br />
<br />
Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.<br />
<br />
Floss.<br />
<br />
Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.<br />
<br />
Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.<br />
<br />
Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.<br />
<br />
Stretch.<br />
<br />
Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.<br />
<br />
Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.<br />
<br />
Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.<br />
<br />
Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.<br />
<br />
Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.<br />
<br />
Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.<br />
<br />
Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.<br />
<br />
Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.<br />
<br />
Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.<br />
<br />
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.<br />
<br />
Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.<br />
<br />
Respect your elders.<br />
<br />
Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.<br />
<br />
Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.<br />
<br />
Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.<br />
<br />
But trust me on the sunscreen."</i><br />
<br />
Send this to EVERY young women you know, they'll thank you one day.Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-50837088435239480352010-08-17T21:20:00.002-04:002010-08-17T21:24:36.810-04:00Seeing Behind the Clouds<div style="text-align: justify;">The sunlight was bursting in trough the big corner windows of my new office this morning. The construction site on the opposite side of the street was already alive and busy. Lime green accordion buses were rushing by... I was standing there immersed in this magic moment of light and color. I need a dose of simple beauty in my life every day, little things that cost nothing at all and make me very happy. I've missed so many beautiful moments like this working for 9 years in the office without windows.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Later in the day I was resting my eyes on the little sparkling white clouds chasing one another over the clear blue sky. How many amazing things we don't see around us even with our eyes open? Nature, people, events, good, bad, joy, effort, calm, love, sadness, need...some of this things may never happen again if we do not stop and acknowledge them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The city we live in is one of those things we take for granted and forget to rediscover over and over. We have our little paths, our grocery stores, work places, schools and gyms and that's about it. Sometimes we visit a park or a theater, eat in a new restaurant. To see your city trough the eyes of a tourist visiting for a first time could put the city you know in an entirely different perspective.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are so many things I didn't see yet in my city. My husband and I went two weeks ago to see the <a href="http://www.quebecregion.com/en/quebec_city_and_area/promenades_and_public_squares/samuel-de-champlain?a=vis">Promenade Samuel-De Champlain</a> inaugurated in 2008 for the 400th anniversary of the Quebec City. Here are some of the pictures I took:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TGsy5tOzwcI/AAAAAAAAIOk/shQbp0C9K5Q/s1600/Promenade+Champlain1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TGsy5tOzwcI/AAAAAAAAIOk/shQbp0C9K5Q/s640/Promenade+Champlain1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TGsy5tOzwcI/AAAAAAAAIOk/shQbp0C9K5Q/s1600/Promenade+Champlain1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TGszO92z5jI/AAAAAAAAIO0/vhrIn3i2Yqc/s1600/Promenade+Champlain3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TGszO92z5jI/AAAAAAAAIO0/vhrIn3i2Yqc/s640/Promenade+Champlain3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TGszO92z5jI/AAAAAAAAIO0/vhrIn3i2Yqc/s1600/Promenade+Champlain3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TGszZaCtXGI/AAAAAAAAIO8/KdFhEWVWEEc/s1600/Promenade+Champlain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TGszZaCtXGI/AAAAAAAAIO8/KdFhEWVWEEc/s640/Promenade+Champlain.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TGszEv-rcVI/AAAAAAAAIOs/sgIT1DyWV9I/s1600/Promenade+Champlain2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TGszEv-rcVI/AAAAAAAAIOs/sgIT1DyWV9I/s640/Promenade+Champlain2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-20893030491654473352010-08-12T21:06:00.002-04:002010-08-13T06:12:04.734-04:00Happy Birthday to Me !<div style="text-align: justify;">One thing is clear: a normal person wouldn't jump for joy seeing so many candles on the cake. There, I said it! But I started to see things differently several years ago when my good friend lost her husband suddenly. He was just about my age. Ever since then I have been seeing my birthdays differently. Each year on my birthday I think to myself: “He hasn't had a chance to be my age.” Those moments make me feel very grateful and I appreciate life even more knowing that every moment of it is a gift. And everything that happened to me, good and bad, is a gift too. This is my life and I finally am able to embrace it in it's greatness. No, I'm not getting all spiritual on you, but there was a moment (or two) when I refused to accept that this is my life - because I had it planned differently long time ago. George Bernard Shaw said: “Forget about likes and dislikes. They are of no consequence. Just do what must be done. This may not be happiness but it is greatness.” Story of my life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TGSMkwbSkDI/AAAAAAAAIOM/ie_yhZtPVmE/s1600/Romantic+birthday+bouquet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TGSMkwbSkDI/AAAAAAAAIOM/ie_yhZtPVmE/s640/Romantic+birthday+bouquet.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Finally, of what importance is the number of years, it's just a number. It's what you pack inside those years that counts. Let me tell you one thing: I've got enough material for two or maybe even three lives. It's not that I have chosen to do so, life simply happened to me. And love. And pain. And joy. And change. And disappointment. And happiness. Life is the greatest teacher. And love is the greatest gift. I'm fortunate enough to have three loves of my life. I just spoke to one of them, he called me from England to wish me happy birthday. I miss him very much. The other is arriving any moment from Montreal to celebrate with me. I can't wait. And the one who was there first, responded to my question: "Do you think you can still be romantic?" with these:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TGSUM581GiI/AAAAAAAAIOY/SFz0KUJ5BA8/s1600/Are+you+still+romantic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TGSUM581GiI/AAAAAAAAIOY/SFz0KUJ5BA8/s640/Are+you+still+romantic.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-30986775465927612532010-08-02T11:03:00.002-04:002010-08-02T11:05:57.773-04:00Good News / Bad News<div style="text-align: justify;">The worst news first: my computer is dead. I'm writing this post on my DH's (very slow) laptop. One week ago, I found my computer with the dreaded "blue screen of death" but I was able to resuscitate it. The same happened a couple more times in the last week but then suddenly nothing, it wouldn't boot at all, I could only see the "No signal" message on my screen. My computer was rather new, fast and reliable, that's the reason why I didn't make any backup yet. Everything is on it: personal documents, family pictures from the last decade, tons of things I love...how can one be so stupid? There is a saying in French: <i>"Il ne faut pas mettre tous les œufs dans le même panier." </i>I think it's the same in English: "Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket". Well, I did. Luckily, I had purchased an additional two year warranty for peanuts (my son would call me stupid if he new, he worked in this business). I’m not a big believer in buying extended warranties, so I usually pass whenever I’m asked, but boy was I happy I didn't this time!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TFbUnPR6JMI/AAAAAAAAINo/cMg9lQ3kcro/s1600/I+love+my+computer+so+much.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TFbUnPR6JMI/AAAAAAAAINo/cMg9lQ3kcro/s400/I+love+my+computer+so+much.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I already knew how much I depend on my computer to do everything, but I didn't know I would panic this much just thinking I could loose it! It's ridiculous, I was feeling as if I was missing an arm... I'm telling you, go ahead, help yourself and take my washer and dryer, my dishwasher, my vacuum cleaner - I'll do anything by hand - but, please, please, pretty please: leave my computer and my Internet alone! And I wasn't even born in the new tech generation...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Anyway, I brought my computer yesterday to the repair service. The young man there must have thought I was crazy but he was very patient with me. And here is the good news about the bad news: as he finally checked the hard drive, he found that all the data are there and can be saved! The problem is apparently with the hardware. Just to be sure, I took the option to transfer my data on the external hard drive before repairing anything. Phew!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I'll have my data probably tomorrow but the repair of my computer could take up to two weeks. I'm patient.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And I saved <b>the best for last</b>: I finally got a job I wanted! Phew - again! I started last week, I'll tell you more about it soon.</div>Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-91337194879372015862010-07-26T22:49:00.020-04:002010-07-27T03:51:55.113-04:00My Magic Shoes<div style="text-align: justify;">They're not red and they're not new. The story about these shoes goes back all the way to 1992. It was the first pair of shoes I bought upon arriving in Munich, Germany. I needed something very comfortable for long walks. This pair of <i>Rieker </i>shoes was just incredibly comfortable, very flexible, made from soft hazelnut brown leather with a buckle on the side. Not my style at all, but, although normally rather expensive, they were reduced by 70% because one buckle was detached. I new I could sew it back on so I bought them. They served me well, my feet were very happy and light in them and they took me places...</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When we left Germany for Canada in 1998, I must have thrown them in one of the bags and so they moved to another continent with me. I wore them a couple more times but soon they started looking old and really worn out. Somehow I couldn't bring myself to throw them away and so they lived on quietly in a dark corner of my entry closet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjF-Y6-ijPGc3GI9HSAS-AGZQyE3eV0_m2mzfIOJn5kA9SKraclADja8pTdYAXJF02bv7HeNiKzRS8W5sIho-sqalUqmvkezvIwKiwo6rTVsKLVWQk7ST1MnA5fZsrL8EMVvXl751xXyBK/s1600/My+Old+Magic+Shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjF-Y6-ijPGc3GI9HSAS-AGZQyE3eV0_m2mzfIOJn5kA9SKraclADja8pTdYAXJF02bv7HeNiKzRS8W5sIho-sqalUqmvkezvIwKiwo6rTVsKLVWQk7ST1MnA5fZsrL8EMVvXl751xXyBK/s640/My+Old+Magic+Shoes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then one day I was reading an article on <a href="http://www.flylady.net/">FlyLady</a> about effective house cleaning and she said you should <a href="http://www.flylady.net/pages/FLYingLessons_Shoes.asp">put your shoes on </a> when doing chores. This tip really picked my curiosity and I wanted to try this method and see if it makes a difference. When I started looking for a pair of shoes to use I found my old, comfortable <i>Riekers</i> again. And it made a difference. I felt more stable, I was stronger and faster. From then on, I didn't put my old shoes on every time I had to clean but I thought of them when I had an incredible amount of things to do at home and very little time. I was always under the impression that, with these shoes on, I was able to accomplish such an amount of chores in very little time that I myself was in awe... I started to call them "My Magic Shoes". Soon my husband started to notice the ginormous positive effect of these old shoes on my speed and my mood. He loved the change so much that he himself suggested often: "Why don't you put those magic shoes of yours on?" </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"> I can't believe I have an 18-year-old pair of shoes that I still use! They're barely holding together, but I'm pretty sure that they can't be easily replaced by any pair of shoes - they must be very special. They are my very special old magic shoes.</div>Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-25917551519800904032010-07-24T15:36:00.002-04:002010-07-25T08:35:08.723-04:00Back In Bloggerland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>So sorry for the break in posts...I missed you all so much! I've been lacking inspiration a bit (not only for my blog posts...) and I've been in a sort of a<i> dormant </i><i>blog </i><i>phase</i> for months. I figured the last thing you need is to come over here only to pick up on my low vibe. Not only did I desert my own blog, I didn't follow yours neither. But today, just moments ago, it was as if someone pushed a secret (red, please!) button, and I woke up. So here I am and I hope you'll forgive me this little unintentional black hole of mine...<br />
Many things happened: spring, flowers in garden, my diploma (finally), job searching, swimming pool season, patio, extreme heat for weeks...<br />
So, for today, I wanted to give you a sign of life and to share some nice pictures I've taken recently. I have to go now, I have to catch up on my blog reading, my Google Reader is bursting out of seams...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TEs7ICdQL2I/AAAAAAAAIMU/dOLD9KP_iKI/s1600/Parc+Chauveau.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TEs7ICdQL2I/AAAAAAAAIMU/dOLD9KP_iKI/s640/Parc+Chauveau.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TEs7N6ynElI/AAAAAAAAIMc/MADPeLONbQI/s1600/Tilaspi+in+my+garden+after+rain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TEs7N6ynElI/AAAAAAAAIMc/MADPeLONbQI/s640/Tilaspi+in+my+garden+after+rain.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TEtASvEBwLI/AAAAAAAAIM4/so8SbtGE5HY/s1600/New+Dawn+Rose+after+rain+in+my+garden.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TEtASvEBwLI/AAAAAAAAIM4/so8SbtGE5HY/s640/New+Dawn+Rose+after+rain+in+my+garden.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TEs7iSrcdxI/AAAAAAAAIMs/Yn2u6L9uq9w/s1600/Hibiscus+-+Centre+Jardin+Paradis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TEs7iSrcdxI/AAAAAAAAIMs/Yn2u6L9uq9w/s640/Hibiscus+-+Centre+Jardin+Paradis.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TEs7iSrcdxI/AAAAAAAAIMs/Yn2u6L9uq9w/s1600/Hibiscus+-+Centre+Jardin+Paradis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TEs6iRfuS5I/AAAAAAAAIL0/DvFZzCgzrHM/s1600/Cactii+-+Centre+Jardin+Paradis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/TEs6iRfuS5I/AAAAAAAAIL0/DvFZzCgzrHM/s640/Cactii+-+Centre+Jardin+Paradis.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1428774829780998510.post-9072685753379823602010-04-12T08:18:00.000-04:002010-04-12T08:18:52.753-04:00Message From the Past<div style="text-align: justify;">What a lovely surprise! As I was organizing my stuff in my sewing room I found a lovely message written probably more than a decade ago. It was engraved carefully in a piece of red tailor's chalk with child's hand.</div>This is one side of the chalk:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/S8MKP013K0I/AAAAAAAAIIs/OYHdV-bR6Mo/s1600/Message+on+the+chalk3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/S8MKP013K0I/AAAAAAAAIIs/OYHdV-bR6Mo/s400/Message+on+the+chalk3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/S8MKW2FhCNI/AAAAAAAAII0/OxEFlsA72cE/s1600/Message+on+the+chalk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/S8MKW2FhCNI/AAAAAAAAII0/OxEFlsA72cE/s400/Message+on+the+chalk.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>And here is the surprise on the other side:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/S8MKvmbyNSI/AAAAAAAAIJE/wgGEpKXkaGg/s1600/Message+on+the+chalk1-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/S8MKvmbyNSI/AAAAAAAAIJE/wgGEpKXkaGg/s400/Message+on+the+chalk1-1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/S8MLAbcIt8I/AAAAAAAAIJM/2jJrQJg8NJY/s1600/Message+on+the+chalk4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sYB-tS7oGKQ/S8MLAbcIt8I/AAAAAAAAIJM/2jJrQJg8NJY/s400/Message+on+the+chalk4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I can't believe I never saw it before! I was moved to tears (but than again, this happens fairly easy in my case). Just lovely! I'm almost certain that it was my daughter who did this as she loved playing by my side while I was sewing. This little discovery made me happy instantly and put a permanent smile on my face...</div>Yasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567018188494770077noreply@blogger.com6