christmas $$$

I am a 43 year old mature adult (sometimes), therefore, I do not expect family to give me gifts on Christmas. However, my Daddy (yes people! I am a Daddy's girl) always gives me a little bit of money that I love to use on an unplanned "splurge". 

This year, we decided to take the $$$ and buy whatever book we wanted at Chapters (for my USA friends... Chapters is the equivalent to your Barnes & Nobles). I usually do my reading on my mini i-pad but there are time that I do love to pick up a actual book.

Here are the books that I am adding to my non ending books to read pile!

1. The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg - Any book that Fannie releases I buy!  Love the characters in all of her books.

2. I am Malada by Malala Tousatzai - I heard great things about this book. 

3. Just one year by Gayle Forman - This is the sequel to Just one day. I hope it is as good as the first book.

4. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell - I really enjoyed his first book called "Attachments" so hopefully this book will be as enjoyable.

I can't forget to mention that I recently bought a Longchamp Purple\Navy Blue Tote and told Bidou that it was his Christmas gift to me from him!  Thanks Bidou!!  By the way, I love this tote and it has become my new favourite work bag.

(Sorry guys! I can't get this picture to rotate!)

Did you get any Christmas $$$ this year?? If so, how will you spend it??

Christmas 2013

I can't even express how happy I am that we decided to stay home for the holidays instead of going to Manhattan (you can read about it here). So far it has been relaxing... spending many hours on the couch catching up on some tv (latest season of the Biggest Loser) and reading.  I finally finished Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. If you haven't read it.  Please do!  I haven't read a good book like that in a while.

Christmas eve was quiet. Daddy came over for supper.  Then Bidou and I matched a movie.

Christmas Day morning was spent at my sister's for breakfast. She served an amazing spread of so many goodies!  

The following are some of my favourite pictures of Xmas 2013 ~

 My brother and his son Kevin

 Kevin and I

 My niece Jessica and my 2 nephew Phil and Kevin horsing around!

Bidou and Kloé 

How was your Christmas??

Stressful or Relaxing??

Staycation or Manhattan

If you had to choose to spend 3 days and 2 nights in a great hotel near Time Square in Manhattan NY during the holidays or stay at home... what would  you choose???

I choose a "staycation" and here is why!

Over a year ago, I bought a 3 day/2 night package with Hilton Vacations. At first I was thinking... let's go in the Fall but unfortunately that did not happen. And then life went on.

Last September, we needed to schedule a date since this package expires in December 2013. Bidou and I discussed it and decided that spending the Christmas holidays in Manhattan was GREAT idea. Now that the December is upon us... we have no desire to be away. It has been a very hectic October/November/December for us. All we want to do is stay home, spend quality time with Kloé, catch up on some reading, maybe see a movie or 2 and visit a local museum.

Any exciting plans for the holidays??

2013 year in review - book version

I was planning to do a post in January regarding the books I read in 2013 but when I heard that Jen and Steph were planning a link-up titled "Year in Review - Your Favorite Things in 2013". I knew that this would be a great occasion to share my book post.  

Last January, I challenged myself to read 40 books. Unfortunately, I did not reach my goal but I am proud to announce that I have read 28 books thus far (still 13 days to go!)

The following is a list of all 28 books I have read in 2013. I read 13 French Canadian novels (I have marked them in italics). I am very proud of this number since I just started to read French language books in 2011. Even though my daily spoken language is French. I relate more to English stuff, especially when it comes to reading a book. I would never be caught reading an English translated to French book.  Strange!!

1. Chère Laurette - Tome 4 by Michel David - french
2. Love Athony by Lisa Genova
3. Souvenirs de la Banlieue - Sylvie - Tome 1 by Rosette Laberge - french
4. Au Bord de la Rivière - Tome 4 - Michel David - french
5. Les Soeurs Beaudry - Tome 1 by Micheline Dalpé - french
6. Souvenirs de la Banlieu - Michel - Tome 2 by Rosette Laberge - french
7. Les Soeurs Beaudry - Tome 2 by Micheline Dalpé - french
8. The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
9. La vie épicée de Charlotte Lavigne - Tome 2 by Nathalie Roy - french
10. Virgin River - book 1 by Robyn Carr
11. Poussière du temps - Tome 1 by Michel David - french
12. Souvenir de la Banlieue - Sonia - Tome 3 by Rosette Laberge - french
13. Souvenir de la Banlieue - Junior - Tome 4 by Rosette Laberge - french
14. Souvenir de la banlieue - Tante Irma - Tome 5 by Rosette Laberge - french
15. The Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella
16. The Road to Grace by Richard Paul Evans 
17. Left Neglected by Lisa Genova
18. Still Alice by Lisa Genova
19. Just One Day by Gayle Forman
20. The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls
21. Poussière du Temps - Tome 2 by Michel David - french
22. The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman
23. The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks
24. The Fault in our Stars by John Green
25. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
26. Mensonges sur le Plateau Mont-Royal - Book 1 by Michel David - french
27. The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Streds
28. The Book Thief by Mark Zusak

Currently Reading 
Me before you by Jojo Moyes (the count will be 29 books if I finish this one before the end of 2013)

Books that I started but did not finish in 2013
Oliver Kitterridge by Elizabeth Strout ~ I tried but just couldn't finish it! See post here
Last Letter from your Lover by Jojo Moyes

Author I discovered in 2013
Lisa Genova - After picking up "Still Alice", I just couldn't stop...!

Biggest Disappointment
After reading "Broken Horses" and "Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls, I was excited for the release of her new book "The Silver Star" last June but was so disappointed.  C'mon Jeannette... you can do a lot better!!

Best Book in 2013
"Still Alice" by Lisa Genova but REALLY loving the book I am currently reading... Me Before You.

Since I was not able to reach my goal of reading 40 books this year... I am setting the same goal for 2014. 

How many books did you read in 2013??

Any book goals for 2014??

late recap of last weekend in pictures

If you follow me on Instragram you probably have seen most of these pictures.  And if you are NOT following me on Instagram... you better press that follow button now.  Merci beaucoup mes amis!!

Left - I read most of Saturday afternoon on the couch while Kloe snored her little heart out! 

Top right - All bundled up for -20c weather... the joys of living in a condo with a dog. We must dress up every time we take her out.  No leaving her free in the yard.

Bottom right - My nephew slept over Saturday night and we watched the Steve Jobs movie (picture of Kevin chilling with Kloé on the couch). I surprisingly enjoyed the movie. Ashton Kutcher did an amazing job portraying him. 

P.S. For the curious minds out there regarding last Friday post, I ended up NOT attending my Annual Christmas Holiday party at work. I have decided that 2014 will be the year that I am introducing the word "NO" into my vocabulary.  Thanks to Stephanie for sending me her post entitled The Art of Saying No. It made me realize that saying NO is not a selfish thing...