the dreaming Press.

Channeling my inner smart girl.

Bicycle cabs in downtown Holguin, Cuba.  Taken July 2007.

Go to Paris Parfait and read the essay posted there.  Whether you are American, Canadian, French or Moroccan! Go and read for Democracy's sake.  Tell every American friend you have to get off the couch on November 4th and vote.

The world needs change.  Change occurs when many like minded individuals set their free will on a common task.  It's a little piece of paper.  It requires an X.  Go do it. 

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And now something for my fellow Canadians; you know those little carrots, the ones that are called "Baby Cut Carrots" that you buy in 1 lb and 2 lb bags at the grocers?  They contain bleach.  They are treated with chlorinated water to keep them from drying out, it acts as a preservative.  Green & Clean Mom tells you more.  Go check it out.

I now buy bagged organic regular sized carrots, and take the time to wash, peel and cut them myself.  My kids are worth it.  Yours are too.

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A Good Catch, by Jill Lambert, tells Canadians which seafood choices are best for them...and which aren't.

Example; Salmon.  Only WILD Pacific Salmon is best.  Anything else is usually farmed, and swimming in antibiotics and again, bleach.  Mmmm.   So, for healthy recipes and the most up to date information on what seafood is okay to feed yourselves, go pick up this book. Oh, and if the package reads FRESH, it isn't.  Crazy what food labels can get away with.  For example yet again, "Product of Canada" means simply assembled in Canada. As to where the fish was sourced from? or what kind it is? or whether it had three eyes?

Mmmm, yet again. 

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My beautiful (real life!) friend Lisa from Ruadh gu brath/Red Heads Forever, joined forces with me to help get my lending team at KIVA off the ground.  We are called Shooting Stars, and feel free to join.  If you are interested in joining our lending team, send me an email and I will send you an invite in return.  All money invested is paid back, and your microloan helps those less fortunate get a great start on a home improvement, or start a small business.  For more basic information or to start your own lending team, click on the KIVA badge on my sidebar.  (But I'd like to have you on my team :)

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No news on the wedding front.  But in the interest of the state of the world economy, and for the fact that we are not profligate spenders by any stretch, we may tone it down and do something completely unconventional. The deeper I look into this, the more I realize that weddings have become another commercialized circus.  Much like Valentines' day.  (Sorry to those who like Valentines' day.) Why should I buy $500 worth of invitations and $10,000 worth of flowers to impress people I barely see on a regular basis?

This is going to be something I would like to discuss with all of you over the coming weeks.  We do know however that we will likely get married sometime in the fall of next year.  I prefer September.  So does Julian.  That is as far as we've gotten. 

Guys, it's just that I'd rather spend $40 or $50 thousand on something a little more substantial than one day...and that would be for a modest wedding alone.  Do you agree?

Much love til next time....xo

A "divine" day yesterday at the Spa :)

Yesterday was fun.  Make that F-U-N! There were lights! Cameras!  Some action~! 

A star was here...Candice Olson! 

But, before we get to that let's clear up some old business. The honey roasted sunflower seeds for the salad are found at...drum roll please....Bulk Barn!  For you Canadian readers, this will be a no-brainer.  For American, Indian, Spanish, Moroccan and Parisienne bloggers, I cannot help you! Nor can I tell you where to find Kraft or Renee's salad dressings unless you live in Canada.  For those who are desperate, email me and we'll make the usual postal arrangements.  I'd hate to see you go without this salad! Okay, on to the good stuff...

Recognize these people? I'm not the only stah! (ha ha!!) in the picture. Look closely, Candice Olson and her team are giving me a massage! LOL

Okay, now for the moment I have you have been waiting for! Well, one of them anyways.  divine design with Candice Olson, including Candice Olson herself came by to film yesterday.  Yes, you heard me right.  Steven, their hardworking and totally stressed loveable design assistant was having his house renovated by the team.  They wanted him to relax, and get pampered.  They filmed him having some spa "moments".  A few waxing jokes later, they had what they needed and they left.  Poor Steven bless him! had to sit and listen to me drone on about all of you! (while I carried on with his spa treatments) and my blogging habits and my life.  I hope I didn't deter him from relaxing too much! But just as a precaution, I sent him home with spa treatment gift certificates to come in and catch me when I'm not starstruck!!

  Chico, the delightful, friendly and funny electrician on the show, (this one's for you Gemma!)

divine design with Candice Olson airs on HGTV, and W Network.  Those are Canadian channels guys.  Check the internet (such as You Tube) for alternative viewing options.  But you just know I'm going to let you all know when it airs, because, well I tell you all pretty much everything! And I'll feature a little snippet here for you too if I can.

Thank you Candice, you are a true star! It was a pleasure saying a few lines with you! Thank you lovely producer Catherine Swing, you are a doll! Thank you Steven, for choosing our little spa.  You guys made our year.  Corey the make up dude; make sure you get back to me about the wedding makeup thingie!  Don't forget!  I want to look like a STAH on my magical day baby.

xo