friday top ten.

top ten things i'd like to do as much as possible before the summer days run out:

cocktails+patios+people watching
barbecues, volleyball and pétanque tournaments in the park.
RUN. loving my sunday morning runs.
visit a few more national parks
take advantage of all the yummy fruit. blueberry cornmeal muffins, fresh strawberries, cherry clafoutis... apples soon.
hot air balloon festival!
wear shorts and tank tops. and dresses. and skirts. sans tights.
go to the weekend markets more.
bike around old port.
find someone with a boat, to go out on on the st. laurent!

what will you be doing more of until the summer is over?

xo

alli

outings.

tonight i ate tomato soup for dinner. in the middle of july. because i was overcome with laziness after my evening run. i'm make something more complicated tomorrow.

meanwhile, my evening has been spent reading... for work and pleasure... perusing the Rue Magazine's sixth issue and mentally noting some lovely fall purchases.

like:

this cute backpack.

here's a few pictures from a walk we went on sunday night across the jacques cartier bridge.  one of several that links montreal to the rest of the surrounding quebec.  did you know montreal is an island?  i didn't before i moved here :)

i can't believe i've already lived in this city for almost a year now.  i feel like i'm just now getting to know it.  i have to soak up the weekend farmers markets, drinks on the patio, and evening runs, before it all gets too chilly again!

voila, a couple photos.  lots more coming :)

xo 

alli

de retour.

readers!
i'm alive! although a little out of blogging practice.  my couple day break from blogging (unfortunately) turned into a longer than intended blogging hiatus.  which is a shame, because there are so many exciting things happening right now!

i'm in a new apartment, that is keeping me busy with deco and DIY projects, hunting and painting for furniture, and LOVING my easy to use (no more lighting matches!) gas stove and oven.  i've been cooking and baking more (blueberry cornbread muffins, lemon roasted chicken, molasses & date oatmeal bread), sweating out the heat, and going for long morning runs.  i'm training for the montreal half-marathon in september... and just completed my longest run yet on sunday. 7.5 miles!  i'm so proud of my buff runner legs :)

the summer has been full of lots of adventures so far... a trip to california for my sister's graduation, fourth of july festivities, checking off hot air balloon ride (!!!) from my life list, a weekend trip to quebec city, and some pretty intense river rafting.  summer barbecues have been plentiful, the morning commute has been awesome now that i can walk everywhere and not freeze, and although i'm not a huge fan of the humidity, i finally feel like i'm finally thawing out after months of winter.  i try to keep my heat/humidity complaining to a minimum, because I KNOW what is around the corner.

thesis research and writing is keeping me busy, but keeping diligent library hours is proving a challenge on these bright and sunny summer days.  i knew that was coming though.

stay tuned this week for some photos of the past few adventures.  i'll try my best not to leave you for another two months :)

xo

alli