photo du mois. un détail.

là bas.

from one of my new favorite tumblr blogs, brown dress with white dots.

la photo du mois: votre blog en une photo.

Welcome back photo-of-the-monthers! I missed a few months as things got busy around here, but I'm back for the theme this month, 'votre blog en une photo' or 'your blog in one photo'. Those who know me will understand why I chose an airplane. As a pilot, avid traveler, and a romantic, I always look forward to a flight, wherever it happens to be taking me. On this particular day, I was leaving my family after a wonderful trip home for Christmas in Utah, on my way to Paris, France to meet up with my boyfriend's family for New Years. I've seen so many spectacular sunsets against that western mountain range, but this one was particularly moving. I find this photo embodies the spirit of my blog, which was started to share my travels and adventures with family and friends. If only it were easier to keep up! 

Be sure to stop by the other blogs that participate in la photo du mois:

Dr CaSo, Nicky, Sephiraph, Cara, Happy Us, DelphineF, LaFamilleD , Flo, Frédéric, Leviacarmina, Champagne, Pilisi, Le Mag à lire, Nathalie, El Padawan, Dorydee, Krn, Louiki, Xavier Mohr, Natderueil, La Nantaise, Carole In Australia, Christeav, Lucile et Rod, magda627, 100driiine, Guillaume, Louisianne, Sébastien, Cessna, oui !, N, Xoliv', Thilily, Caterine, M, Céline in Paris, Lauriane, Dame Skarlette, Manola, Clara, Alban, Nataru, Cindy Chou, Valentine, Alexanne, Akaieric, Solveig, Kyoko, Josiane, Viviane, Céliano, Une niçoise, Alice, J'adore j'adhère, Lhise, Emma, Un jour une rencontre, Alice Wonderland, LaGodiche, Cekoline, Dreamteam, Lyonelk, Vanilla, Narayan, Caro, Chris et Nanou, Zaza, Thalie, Isabelle et Gilles, Juriste-in-the-city , Virginie, Lavandine, Cherrybee, Les zinzins, Ava, Les petits supplices !, Arwen, M.C.O, Filamots, Bestofava, Tambour Major, A&G, La Parigina, Cynthia, La Flaneuse, Les voyages de Lucy, Les voyages de Seth et Lise, Mgie les bons tuyaux, Marion, Blogoth67, Karrijini, Stephane08, Cricriyom from Paris, Hibiscus, Gizeh, Violette, La Papote, Kob, Carnets d'images, Ori, Batilou, Mistinguett, E, Angélique, Mamysoren, Eloclemence, Melting Pot, Sophie Rififi, Anne, Laure, Escapade en Tunisie, Galinette, Anne Laure T, Sinuaisons, The Mouse, Skipi, Laurent Nicolas, Justine, Isaquarel, Nora, La Fille de l'Air, Marmotte, Djoul, Fanfan Raccoon, Jean Wilmotte, Coco, Petite Marie, François le Niçois, David et Mélanie, Agrippine, Alexinparis, Annick, Cocosophie, Renepaulhenry, Pat Québec, Cathy, Caprices de filles, Maïder, Gilsoub, La Messine, Olivier, Lo, Shandara.

la photo du mois: oh my god.

This month's theme, 'oh my god' was enormously general, and yet surprisingly challenging. There weren't very many guidelines for specifics of the theme, so I'll be curious to see what other participants came up with.

Once I knew the theme, one of the photos that came to mind right away was this one from our hot air balloon ride last summer, almost exactly a year ago. We were so high up in the air, packed into such a small space, all enjoying the peaceful morning between blasts of fire that the pilot used to keep us afloat. Truth be told, a more true representation of 'oh my god' would be the video recording of our landing after this picture was taken. But that's a story for another day!

Be sure to check out the rest of the photos from the participating bloggers as well : 

Babou, Lavandine, Annick, Fanfan Raccoon, Nomade57, Ava, Lauriane, Alban, Les zinzins, Narayan, Carole In England, Muni57, Louiki, Krn, M'dame Jo, Ori, La Parigina, Bestofava, Sinuaisons, LaGodiche, Cara, Maïder, Nathalie, Frédéric, Dorydee, Guillaume, Gizeh, Alexanne, Sébastien, Laurent Nicolas, Nora, Stephane08, Marion, Où trouver à Montréal ?, Aparça, Mamysoren, Céline in Paris, Galinette, Les voyages de Seth et Lise, M, M.C.O, Céliano, François le Niçois, Manola, Oryann, E, Cocosophie, Lesegarten, L'Azimutée, Tambour Major, Arwen, Leviacarmina, Lhise, Stéphie&lesCacahuètes, Cynthia, Anne, Champagne, Marie, Otaku, A&G, Les voyages de Lucy, Caro, Les petits supplices !, Véro Beramelo, Le-Chroniqueur, magda627, Terhi Schram, florianL, Aude, David et Mélanie, Lost in London, Xavier Mohr, Coco, Elapstic, André(eric)Fernandes, Escapade en Tunisie, Sephiraph, J'adore j'adhère, jen et dam, Agrippine, Olivier, Typh', Testinaute, Blogoth67, Cricriyom from Paris, 100driiine, Nataru, Clara, Emi London, The Mouse, Batilou, Cherrybee, Agnès, Karrijini, Une niçoise, Misscarone, Chris et Nanou, Dreamteam, Gilsoub, Dan, Cathy, Nicky, Anne-Cécile, Kyoko, Hibiscus, Louisianne, Un jour une rencontre, Kob, Alice Wonderland, Alexinparis, Petite Marie, Akaieric, Titem, Anne Laure T, Skipi, Vanilla, La Papote, La Nantaise, Xoliv', La Fille de l'Air, Kyn, Dr CaSo, Lyonelk, Isabelle, Melting Pot, Mistinguett, Super Lisa, Carnets d'images, Flo, Nelcie, Viviane, Violette, Jean Wilmotte, Zaromcha, Cekoline, DNA, Emma, La Flaneuse, Filamots, Tam, Pilisi, Cessna, oui !, Mgie les bons tuyaux, Quelbazar, Renepaulhenry, Anita, Laure, Le Mag à lire. 

alli

la photo du mois: la vie en vert.

This month's theme for photo of the month was 'la vie en vert', vert being green or nature. On a hike on a nature reserve on Ile St Bernard last weekend, I chose this photo from among the ones I took that day.

At first I was a bit frustrated not to get the exact shot that I wanted, but I like how this came out. The photo has a hidden part to it that you don't notice at first, but you can't ignore once you see it. Do you see it?

Be sure to check out the rest of the photos from the participating bloggers as well : 

Babou, Lavandine, Annick, Fanfan Raccoon, Nomade57, Ava, Lauriane, Alban, Les zinzins, Narayan, Carole In England, Muni57, Louiki, Krn, M'dame Jo, Ori, La Parigina, Bestofava, Sinuaisons, LaGodiche, Cara, Maïder, Nathalie, Frédéric, Dorydee, Guillaume, Gizeh, Alexanne, Sébastien, Laurent Nicolas, Nora, Stephane08, Marion, Où trouver à Montréal ?, Aparça, Mamysoren, Céline in Paris, Galinette, Les voyages de Seth et Lise, M, M.C.O, Céliano, François le Niçois, Manola, Oryann, E, Cocosophie, Lesegarten, L'Azimutée, Tambour Major, Arwen, Leviacarmina, Lhise, Stéphie&lesCacahuètes, Cynthia, Anne, Champagne, Marie, Otaku, A&G, Les voyages de Lucy, Caro, Les petits supplices !, Véro Beramelo, Le-Chroniqueur, magda627, Terhi Schram, florianL, Aude, David et Mélanie, Lost in London, Xavier Mohr, Coco, Elapstic, André(eric)Fernandes, Escapade en Tunisie, Sephiraph, J'adore j'adhère, jen et dam, Agrippine, Olivier, Typh', Testinaute, Blogoth67, Cricriyom from Paris, 100driiine, Nataru, Clara, Emi London, The Mouse, Batilou, Cherrybee, Agnès, Karrijini, Une niçoise, Misscarone, Chris et Nanou, Dreamteam, Gilsoub, Dan, Cathy, Nicky, Anne-Cécile, Kyoko, Hibiscus, Louisianne, Un jour une rencontre, Kob, Alice Wonderland, Alexinparis, Petite Marie, Akaieric, Titem, Anne Laure T, Skipi, Vanilla, La Papote, La Nantaise, Xoliv', La Fille de l'Air, Kyn, Dr CaSo, Lyonelk, Isabelle, Melting Pot, Mistinguett, Super Lisa, Carnets d'images, Flo, Nelcie, Viviane, Violette, Jean Wilmotte, Zaromcha, Cekoline, DNA, Emma, La Flaneuse, Filamots, Tam, Pilisi, Cessna, oui !, Mgie les bons tuyaux, Quelbazar, Renepaulhenry, Anita, Laure, Le Mag à lire. 

la photo du mois.

Each month I'll be participating in a group called 'La photo du mois' or Photo of the Month. Every participating blogger takes a picture according to a specific theme chosen by the group's president, and posts it on the 15th of the month. 

This month's theme was 'transparence'.

I would have liked a better photo to join the group with a bang, but I found it to be a very challenging theme! The photo was taken at Mary Queen of the World Cathedral in downtown Montreal. This is only the first of many months though, so stick around to see what I post up next!

xo

alli

You can take a look at the rest of the bloggers who participate in the club... standby for a list!

le weekend.

Quel weekend bien chargé! Get ready for photo overload folks. 

Saturday I planned a little get together in the park complete with shish kebabs, watermelon, and smores, of course :)

We challenged our guests to a little pétanque.

And we played until the sun went down.

And then we roasted marshmallows. And chocolate covered Chips Ahoys.

I liked the all-in-one smore going on there.

Une soirée parfaite.

Sunday we road tripped to Parc Omega, a wild animal park close about mi-chemin between Montreal and Ottawa. 

Visitors stay in their car and drive around the park, becoming at times intimately acquainted with the wildlife. These guys were waiting for us at the entrance to the park. 

The amount of slobber on the car windows after our visit was frightening. We bought a bag of carrots so we could feed the various moose, elk, deer, caribou, etc. 

Les sangliers. Boars.

He was READY to do anything for that carrot.

Arctic foxes. Looked more like fluffy puppies though.

Bison!

Lots of.... baby bison? Bison... calves?

The master.

Enfin, la vallée des ours!

The cutest little bear pups you've ever seen. 

People threw the bears apples instead of carrots. 

And they all seemed to know what to do to get the apples!

This little guy was on the sidelines by the bears.

Les visiteurs.

A jam-packed, warm-weathered, smore-eating, wine-drinking, pétanque-playing, summer weekend. After a much needed does of Vitamin D I didn't even mind too much that it poured all.day.long. Rainy weeks are easier when there are sunny weekends. 

What festivities were your weekends filled with?

xo

friday top ten: web style.

top ten intriguing/yummy/crafty/beautiful things from the web this week.

via swiss-miss.

Inspired by my own birthday this week... find out how common your bday is. 

via delighted momma. 

Like to try my hand at polymer clay necklaces.

Wine belt for a bike! Genius!

Cute kitchen scale to add a vintage touch. 

Chocolate coffee hazelnut layer cake. Going to try this for Mr. S's birthday next week.

I see a different you. 

Beautiful dress! Love the bracelets too. And the rest of the blog is pretty fantastic as well. 

via

Just figured out today that the flower muguet in French is Lily of the Valley. I snatched a few this week on an evening walk and they're making the apartment smell lovely. 

What! Tom's Sunglasses?!

via.

Want to buy some succulents for the apartment. Such lovely, understated plants. 

What's in store for your weekend? I'm going to wrangle up a barbeque, watermelon, cold beer, smore fixings, and some pretty awesome people and celebrate birthdays and warm weather. Have a good one!

xo

on leaning in.

Homemade channa masala (with this recipe) spiced chicken drumsticks, and naan (with this recipe). The naan was ridiculously easy and SO good. Will be making that on a regular basis. With more garlic next time. 

Strawberry sponge layer cake with home made whipped cream. Topped with powdered sugar. 

Weddings make a great occasion for a reunion. We spent our weekend down in Western Massachusetts catching up with les nantais. There was hiking, cute, slobbery dogs, wonderful breakfasts, and cocktails for everyone. 

Doesn't this little piece of bark remind you of the infinity sign? 

Things have been up and down over here. Transition periods are always the hardest ones to get through, I know that's not a monumental discovery. But for the sake of my mental health, I've decided to (try to) embrace the hard parts. The pointy edges that I just want to smooth out. There are going to be difficult parts in life and sometimes you just have to lean in to them. Even though it's uncomfortable. I don't know if my strategy is working yet, but I do know I am considerably calmer this week than last. I go for long runs. I did hot yoga this afternoon and sweat everything out of my body. I wrote a story this morning for the first time since who knows how long. And now I'm getting back to work this afternoon, trying to move forward and see what's ahead for me. 

How is your week going? What recipes are you cooking up? 

xo

lately.

lately i've been...

jumping towards the sky.

putting (hopefully) end-of-the-season use to bean boots.

hanging out on cold northeastern beaches.

hanging out on warm, tropical beaches.

swimming with the fishies. and rays. and sharks.

crashing fam vacations.

and not pictured...

making homemade whipped cream to go atop strawberry vanilla cake.

trying my hand at a mongolian beef recipe, with grilled veggies.

fostering a new tomato plant on our balcony.

trying to not wash away in this rainy month of may.

watching this city completely transition, to the season I love most.

exploring more of quebec, hosting tourists, and reuniting with old friends.

going on longer evening runs. in shorts. and t shirts.


Excuse the somewhat unplanned hiatus, but hopefully this recent grad school graduate will now have ample time to write. and post. and photograph. and cook. and live!

What have you been up to lately?