weekend

I do not have much to say this morning, therefore.... picture recap of the weekend!

Breakfast with Bidou at my favourite breakfast/lunch restaurant - Cora

This was so so good and since it is made with egg whites... it was healthy. Bonus!

Since the spending freeze, I have been trying to stay out of the malls but needed to go to the Apple Store for Bidou. I was so tempted in buying this Michael Kors' mini ipad clutch. Maybe after the spending freeze!!

I finished reading Book 3 of my 40 book reading challenge.

Do yourself a favour and read this book! 

And my favourite pic of the weekend!

The loves of my life!

most depressing day of the year & weekend recap

I heard on the news this morning that today is the most depressing day of the year! Very interesting since I am feeling fabulous this morning. It's back to work and back to a normal routine ~ finally! Yes guys... I love routines!

I started reading "Just One Year" by Gayle Forman during the weekend. It is the sequel of  "Just One Day". I also had my first of four lattes allowed during my spending freeze (see here for my rules and regulations).

I made these on Sunday for my lunches this week. Instead of having them for breakfast, I will have them for lunch with a salad. Don't they look yummy? eggs, red peppers, oignons, cheddar cheese, fresh cilantro. Bake in oven at 350 for 25 minutes.

I have never mentioned it on the blog but I LOVE to play cards. My Daddy, Bidou and I play this particular card game that we call "neuf" (French word for the number nine) every time we get together and always on Sundays after supper.

How was your weekend??

Are you feeling depressed today??

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??

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...

short weekend recap

I go to bed early and get up early... that is my routine and I like it that way.  Therefore, when there happens to be a Saturday that I do go to bed at 1:30 a.m.  Must I say that my routine is ALL screwed up... and that I hate!

With that being said, my Sunday was spend literally on the couch watching television (catching up on a French Canadian show called Unité 9) and taking power naps instead of doing laundry, preparing food for the week and house cleaning!!

Short Recap of Weekend

A nice and relaxing weekend - just the way I like them to be!!
We watched 3 movies (The Internship, The Heat and an older movie on Netflix called Dolphin Tale) and read a lot!

Sunday's supper consisted of making an easy stuffed cabbage casserole 
that I stole from a Life According to Stephanie.  
It was a hit!!  Bidou and I loved it and will be making it again!  Bonus - there were plenty left overs for lunches.

Love this picture of Kloé with her ear all twisted!