The beginning

And I can't wait for it to begin!

It's going to be a great one :)

Happy first day of Summer!

xoxo

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A pocket full of daisies?

Do you have a favorite flower? Or do you fancy a few ;)
It's rather difficult to narrow it down to just one isn't it?
There's just so many to love!

Blushing peonies, classic red roses, exotic orchids, or colorful dahlias,
they're all lovely.

One of my favorite moments in You've Got Mail, 

is when Tom Hanks visits a Meg Ryan and greets her with a bouquet of daisies...

"I love daisies. They're so friendly. Don't you think daisies are the friendliest flower?"

Yes, Meg, my thoughts exactly.

I do however; I have one flower that stands out from the rest.

 Lilacs.

They recall to mind, memories of my Mummu's {Finnish for Grandma} house.
Freshly cut from the garden, their scent wafting lazily in the air.
I'm transported to a time long long ago.
Delicious...

So tell me, do you have a favorite?

Have a fabulous weekend!!!

xoxo

P.S. I received a surprise bouquet of flowers yesterday, and it was delightful :)


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"Eventually everything falls into place, until then hang on to hope, laugh at the confusion, live in the now, see the beauty in everything, trust your intuition and have faith that it all happens for a reason"

Unknown

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Rain, rain, come to play

I don't know about you, but I adore Spring and her unpredictable temperament. 

She's feisty and gloriously spontaneous.

Just the other night, after a long stretch of sun filled days (12 days to be exact), the heavens opened and we were greeted with a sweet spring time showering. 

As anyone who has lived in Vancouver can attest, 

we know rain. 

We're right up there with the Londoners and our neighbors to the south in Seattle. 

Because of this, I consider myself a bit of an expert. 

And in my opinion, nothing, beats a spring time shower.

Something about  the mixture of warm muggy temperatures and a cooling rain fall, is just delightful.

As I walked along on Monday evening I was glad I was appropriately clad in my favorite red rain jacket and rubber boots.

And of course jumped in a puddle or two ;)

And on the subject of rain, the MOMA has opened it's Rain Room exhibit. This installation is interactive in the best way possible. As you walk through the room, the rain ceases to pour wherever you walk, allowing you to move freely through sheets of rain without getting wet.

As long as you don't move too fast ;)

How cool is that?
I wish I could see it in person!

Wishing you a lovely weekend!

xoxo

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Here or there?

Life as a nanny in the city is largely spent walking with the babes. Oh, the places we walk.

In the rain and in the sun, in the wind and in the downpour. With backpacks, umbrellas, beach toys, groceries, and picnic bags.With bouquets of dandelions and buttercups, stones, sticks and handfuls of grass.

When I'm with the littlest one, we spend our walks chatting about the most random things known to man. Whether it be about the monsters that live in the garage, endless observations and questions about those passing by, booby traps we're sure to encounter, or debating the soonest possible opportunity for yet another sweet treat. "Isn't it a special day Rachel? Couldn't we have a treat?" Cute boy.

But when we've picked up his lovely sister from school and we're walking home, we like to play a game. "If you could, would you live here, or there?"

It's the same game my sisters and I played as girls, riding our bikes after dinner, exploring new neighborhoods as the sun faded into evening. "I'd live here!" Each of us would call out as we passed charming home after charming home. Even still, we catch ourselves playing the very same game, however many years later. It's fun to see what draws someone to a home; almost as if specific features of the desired home illustrate parts of that person.

And is there anything better than dreaming?

So, let's play together, sweet people. :)

If you could, would you live here, or there?

 

P.S. This would be my summer home. A girl can dream, right?  :)

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"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.  There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of the birds, the ebb and flow of the tides, the folded bud ready for spring. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature... The assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter."

Rachel Carson

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"There is a season for wildness and a season for settledness, and this is neither.

This season is about becoming."

Shauna Niequist

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The three amigos

"Sister. She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is you witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark.  She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink.  Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child."

Barbara Alpert


Oh, how true that is ;)

Fortunately for me, I have two.

Two conspirators,

soul-mates,

and best friends.


We're like the original three amigos.
Only cuter!

*wink*

We're about to embark on our own little adventure,
a weekend away at the family cabin.

Hooray!

There will be copious amounts of vino, fire-side chats, late night movie marathons,
and delicious food, courtesy of my lovely sister Mel.
{She's a whiz with whipping up gourmet food}

I'm so excited!

There really isn't anything better than a girls weekend away :)

So my lovelies, what are your plans for this weekend?
Anything fun?

xoxo

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Because it's Friday!!!

And this is how I feel when Friday finally rolls around ;)

Have a glorious weekend lovelies!!!

xoxo

{Image: Untitled by Nicholas Scarpinato and Kyle Thompson}

La vie en rose

Hey Lovelies, it's Wednesday!

You know what that means :)

Half-way through the work-week.

Wahoo!

In continuation of our series, take pleasure in this life,

 I thought I'd let you in on my work-day mojo maker.

I've been logging a lot of time at my desk recently, and taken on a few extra responsibilities. 

My mountain of paper work is slowly mounting each day, and there are many t's to cross and i's to dot. 

Sometimes it's easy for me to get bogged down with the meticulous nature of it all, 

and I desperately need something to spice it up.

Enter in,

French music....

Instantly I'm transported to a Parisian cafe and cobblestone streets,

and miraculously the stress in my shoulder blades begins to melt. 

My thoughts clear, and my attention to detail is enhanced. 

Work actually becomes quite enjoyable.

{Yes I just said that}

I've been a long time fan of such artists as Carla Bruni and Madeleine Peyroux.

And of course I love the quintessential La vie en rose, by Édith Piaf.

My love of French music has even extended itself to hip-hop and rap.

And on the recommendation of my good friend, I've been listening to a lot of Passi and Mc Solaar.

Some of my colleagues have raised an eye brow or two, but then before you know it, 

they're grovvin to it too!

So without further ado, 

I'll leave you with a handful of my absolute favorite tunes.

Enjoy!

P.S. Did any of you recognize that last song from somewhere? ;)

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Cash diet.

Since Christina and I are both planning on traveling for one month this summer and are quickly remembering how expensive travel can be, we've been inspired to get financially organized. 

We've been budgeting, scrimping, and saving.

And the weirdest thing, is that I've been enjoying the process, an insane amount.

Creating and adjusting a budget for myself has been making me giddy. What???

Part of this grand scheme, has been starting a cash diet. Everyone always says that cash is harder to part with than plastic, and it's also easier to visualize and realize the amount being spent as the cash pile dwindles.

Generally, every paycheck I divide my income between: 

bills {rent, mobile, visa}, 

expenses {transit, gas}, 

savings {both for travel and long-term}, 

and then I give myself a portion of cash for everyday life that has to last until the next paycheck.

Before I started this project, I almost never carried cash. I also barely saved, because I figured it was more important to pay down debt {credit card & student loans} than to put money aside. 

A financial advice article I read a short time ago set me straight. So, I'm saving, even if it's just small amounts every paycheck. 

My dear friend Katie put it best, "You have to pay yourself too!" 

And carrying cash and limiting myself to it, has been a surprisingly empowering experience.

Ah, the things we are capable of. :)

Plus, saving isn't so hard to do when dreaming of the adventures that will come because of it.

P.S. This expert's advice has been so helpful throughout the process. She offers a number of helpful resources and financial tips at her website and blog.

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{Bottom image of a Soapstone Globe available at Anthropologie}

Wistful Wednesday

As we inch closer to summer, and spring slowly settles upon us, 

I can't help but be filled with anticipation....

For rope swings and watering holes....

For farmers markets, and vintage bicycles laden with wild flowers....

For trips to the cabin....

For camping in the great outdoors....

And of course the long and lingering fireside chats, with friends and family.

What are you wistfully day dreaming about?

Happy hump day!!!

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Shake that thang

Sometimes there's just nothing better than a solid car dance.
I`m talking arms in the air, hips shaking in the seat, silly, goofy, and sassy.

Just as Christina and I share this blog, we also do a ton of other things as a pair as well. That includes sharing a daily commute to work; usually driving together one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening.  Often, we spend this time chatting about life, dreaming about hopeful things, or venting about the craziness we experience on those can't-catch-a-break days.

But then a really, really good song comes on the radio, and instantly one of us quickly reaches to crank up the volume and the bass.

Suddenly, dancing wildly is of the utmost importance.

I think it must be quite the sight. Being stuck in morning grid-lock, and seeing these two girls, moving foolishly about their car, having the grandest time.

That being said, we've been amused so many times when catching others singing and dancing enthusiastically as they drive past too.
These are my favorite people. :)

Oh, by the way!

This is another take pleasure in this life post.

Cause this is by far and away, an eternal source of happiness for me. 

Anyways, thought I`d leave you darlings with some ultimate booty poppin` music for your Friday.



Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! xoxo

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These are a few of my favorite things...

Josh Ritter {boyish, charming and crazy talented} at the Commodore Ballroom.

Vietnamese Pho at our favorite local restaurant. We go so often, they know our order!

Dutch blitz on cozy weekends with my little brother.

Sunny Saturday mornings in bed that easily stretch into Saturday afternoons, still in bed.

Fresh air. And days spent in the garden.

The most tasty sushi. Sister dates. And camera phone battles.

Rambling walks on gorgeous, blustery days. 

Lingering spring afternoons on patios around Vancouver. Delicious beer. And the best company. :)

These girls.

Whole tubs of Ben & Jerry's best.
Going for a scooter along the Sea Wall with the babes that I nanny.
And very milky tea.


That's all for now. :)