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

friday top ten.

via Oh Happy Day.

Happy Friday, friends! Friday top ten has been missing for awhile, I'm bringing it back this week with some things to share from my world and around the web. 

1. I have a hair appointment scheduled this weekend, and I'm seriously contemplating chopping it all off.  Well, almost. Here and here are two of the inspirational do's floating through my mind.

2. Just discovered this blog, Oh Happy Day, and I have been taking notes making my way through the archives. Her post about the top ten things to do in Paris with kids made me miss that magical city. Longing for summer picnics on the Champ de Mars!

3. Would love to try this recipe this weekend, for honey cornbread muffins.

4. Also, found a recipe on Delighted Momma for a flax seed meal pizza crust, which would be interesting to try. She puts up lots of low sugar/low carb recipes since she is diabetic. I deal with blood sugar issues (hypoglycemia) on almost a daily basis, so I like reading some of her tips!

 

from for me, for you.

5. Love this simple DIY project to spice up a kitchen wall. From for me, for you.

6. This week I was feeling quite creatively stifled, so I went to a craft store one afternoon and walked out with these wonderfully quirky woodless colored pencils, some white card stock, acrylic paint, and knitting needles and yarn. Halfway through a knitting project and I already feel much better :)

7. A few weeks ago I started gradually substituting more natural body care products into my daily routine. So far I've found:

Burts Bees Soap Bark & Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream

Avalon Organics Lemon Shampoo 

and ... Toms natural deodorant. I'm also exploring more natural make up options. Anyone have any natural mascara or lipstick they would recommend? I use Burts Bees tinted lip balm and gloss that I love.

8. These two songs have been on repeat in the apartment lately. Also, why did it take me so long to discover 8tracks? This is my go-to music in the morning.

 

from bigBANG studio.

 

9. Look at these amazing pictures from a Kinfolk dinner in New York.

10. And finally, we saw Andre Agassi, Michael Chang, Ivan Lendl, and Pat Cash play tonight at Rendez-vous des maitres tennis tournament at the Bell Center. Quite impressive!

What are the top ten things from your week?

alli

friday top ten: ipod race list.

Tell me.  Why is that I can find the motivation to whip up some cinnamon applesauce, a pie crust for a quiche tomorrow, earmark a recipe for simple alfredo pasta sometime next week (I want to add asparagus or broccoli), and a jalepeno omelette that I want to make for dinner tonight, run to the store to buy a magazine... but the motivation for anything work, dishes, or laundry related is mysteriously absent.  It must be the obligation part of it, hm?

I am so happy that it is Friday (that sounds familiar) and I'm getting excited for the half marathon on Sunday!!  I went for a 2 mile run yesterday and.... no pain in my foot!!  Remains to be seen if the pain will come back at say, mile 7.  We'll see.  I'm just going to go as far as I can, I'm ready!

And in preparation for the big race, I'm debating what's going to be part of my Marathon Mix.  Here are some of my ideas so far.  A Half-Marathon-Themed Friday Top Ten, if you will.

Adele: Set Fire to the Rain
One Republic: Good Life
Snow Patrol: Finish Line (how appropriate)
Lady Gaga: Just Dance.... or Poker Face
2Pac: Changes (this was always one of the first songs I listened to on my long runs)
Train: Hey Soul Sister
The Midway State: Atlantic (a new find)
Rihanna:  Only Girl
Dave Matthews: Bartender (live version)
Coldplay: Viva la Vida (reminds me of summer car rides with the windows down)

Of course I only have about half of these songs, so I'll have to get the rest!   Any suggestions?  What song gives you an extra burst of energy during your workout?

What's in store for your weekend?

xo,

alli

friday top ten.

hello! it's almost the weekend!  mine started a few hours ago, with smoothies shared on a sunny terrace and a weekend magazine purchase.  i also may or may not have purchased some red lipstick that i'm trying on for size :)  i think barbeque chicken and garlic green beans, and perhaps a movie, may also be on the schedule tonight.  pretty good for only being a couple hours into my weekend!

for this week's friday top ten i've decided to share a list of the top ten things that had something to do with my week, either from things i've seen on the internet or weekly adventures.

1. a quirky read that i just picked up: everything is illuminated, by jonathan safran foer

it already has me laughing on my morning bus ride.  the quirky and horrible (deliberate) translations between the ukrainian and jewish characters are hilarious. also picked up i capture the castle at my favorite used bookstore for 50 cents! score.

2. an interesting article about bilingualism, emotions, and how we express them.  touches on the intertwined nature of languages, and how bilingualism is far from cut and dry.

3. this looks almost TOO comfy to be an item of clothing that you can out in public in.  i'm a size small by the way, and accepting packages :)

4. i LOVE this poster.  could totally see it in the entryway of my apartment, inside an old mirror frame that i've been meaning to repurpose.

5. also, want to make this, with france and the us :) may as well just paste my whole pinterest collection here! 

6. this recipe looks both delicious and easy.  

7. one of my favorite blogs and etsy shops right about now! :)

photo credit: lindsay poulin.

8. jessica from whatiwore posted this llbean bag today, and i immediately started drooling.  what a sturdy, classic piece!

9. thinking about heading back here for drinks when my SISTER comes to visit next week!!!

10. also, a cute new blog that i discovered.  love here sense of fashion, and all the pics she includes of the new house she just bought with her hubby.  also, she looks SO much like one of the olsen twins.  

tell me one of your top ten items from this week!

have a great weekend!

xo

alli

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

friday top ten.

top ten shows that shaped my childhood.

(or that i spent hours watching).

1. rugrats

2. doug

3. rocky and bullwinkle

4. alex mack

5. rocko's modern life

6. pete and pete

7. hey dude

8. clarissa explains it all

9. legends of the hidden temple

10. guts

do they still make tv like that? 

write your favorites in the comments!

ps. a couple bonuses for the weekend.

ruemag edition 3 is out. nice saturday morning reading.

i just stumbled upon designsponge, and this project looks cool.

matchbook magazine. for more online browsing.

and in case you are looking for 9348 ideas on how to wear a striped shirt.

a new source of inspiration.... for just about everything.

and finally, 

going with the tv show theme,

a little word from schnappy.

and once i'm thinking about cro-cro diles, 

i couldn't resist this of course. 

happy weekend!

(i'll be ice skating and fondu eating!)

xo

alli

friday top ten.

photo credit. 

top ten awkward metro moments

which may or may not have happened to me. 

1. staring at the metro map posted above someone's seat. 

having that person think you're staring at them.

2. grabbing on to the hand rail and touching a stranger's hand by mistake.

apologize sheepishly or do the awkward throat clear and ignore it?

3. let me just put it this way

-10 F outside,

95 F inside.

4. trying to take off/adjust/put on

scarf, hat, earmuffs, gloves/mittens,

while wearing a 10 lb winter coat,

and carrying another bag.

5. going through the entrance door and

battling the 20 mph blast of warm air.

wind tunnel much?

6. sitting next to someone hacking up a lung.

or chewing obnoxiously.

7. having a conversation with someone

who gets off a stop ahead of you.

i always feel like everyone is staring at me after that person leaves.

8. metro musicians.

the man who holds his music stand together with duct tape,

the man in a plastic boat complete with blow-up palm tree,

or the man on stilts playing the flute in a jester hat.

9. reading a neighbor's newspaper over their shoulder 

without getting caught.

10. running to catch a metro,

making it with a triumphant jump,

and then standing still for another 45 seconds before it starts moving.

anyone else have awkward metro moments?

or any public transport for that matter!

xo

alli

friday top ten.

so i was just sitting down to ponder some friday top tens,

when i opened my google reader

and see that one of my favorite bloggers 

re-posted a 

ghandi's top ten.

i hope the little man knows he's my guest blogger this evening.

via

i guess i've had an inspirational sort of week, eh?

what are your plans for the weekend?

i'm going to grocery shop and hopefully 

try my hand at 

Chicken Soup with Lemon and Bulgur

Roasted Beets with Feta

or

Black Bean and Tomato Quinoa

and then i think i'll go ice skating! 

:)

happy weekend!

xo

alli

friday top ten.

thank you gen, 

for requesting

'the top ten crazy things that happen at the happ house'

xmas style.

1. can we just start with the fact that 

on average

we housed 15-21 people for a week. 

yea.

2. uncle george's crazy morning wakeup calls/departure countdowns.

on speaker phone.

once every 27 seconds.

3. walmart tag.

manager didn't like that so much.

4. mac party at the kitchen table.

i think we had at least 10 laptops?

5. ten years and only one broken arm. 

that deserves an applause.

6. the plan to steal the presents,

hide them in the bed of uncle's truck,

and convince isaac that santa forgot our house.

7. action sports movie. 

versions one. two. three. four?

8. the number of daily trips to the grocery store.

9. the bloody decapitated snowman

that colin made in the front yard.

10. oh yea.

that time the christmas tree fell over.

who wants to add something?

xo

alli

a belated friday top ten.

random style, because i can't think of a theme.

start sending me recommendations, people.

1. yesterday (friday) was the first time i cooked dinner this week.  end of semester? yes.

2. i love candles, but i always feel guilty using them up. 

3. i indulged in a 5 episode seinfeld marathon tonight.

4. i want this scarf for christmas.  in all colors.

5. today at work i listened to some strange npr podcasts: car talk, this american life about chicken grooming, and wait wait don't tell me about offensive itchy wool sweaters.

6. we bought a christmas tree tonight.  

he's either going to be named sammy (for sapin de noel)

or chris (christmas tree). 

7. sammy/chris looks like a fat kid with no neck. 

i'll wait for the branches to relax a little before i post a picture.

8. i was in the U.S. for about 2 hours this week.

9. sometimes i miss india. do you ever have strong vacation nostalgia?

10. it's currently -28 degrees in alert, canada. -40 with the windchill.

don't worry, it's pretty far away from where i am now.

what made your week random?

xo

alli

friday top ten.

ten reasons that make this weekend awesome.

1. the week is over!

2. 3 presentations out of the way.

3. beaujolais nouveau soirée tonight!

4. toasting to new jobs!

5. my warm puffy winter coat FINALLY arrived.

6. a nice long (freezing) run.

7. HARRY POTTER!

8. earning some money tomorrow (this is the upside of working 9-5 on saturday).

9. snow flurries, furry gloves and wool socks.

10. christmas music that's made it's way on to my ipod.

happy weekend friends! 

i know i wasn't around much this week, 

the next two weeks are gonna be BUSY ones too.

how are you going to enjoy your weekend?

what are your top ten reasons it's going to be a great one?

xo

alli

friday top ten.

today's top ten:
types of restaurants that i love
and want to try!

1. indian 

which i ate tonight, yum!

butter chicken & garlic nan deliciousness

2. sushi!
there's a place on the street next to mine

3. vietnamese

also not far from the apartment

4. afghan restaurant 

we tried to go there a few weeks ago with friends

but it was full

5.georgian/russian restaurant

probably the one i'm most curious about 

i have no idea what they eat in georgia

6. mexican

gotta find a good mexican place around here!

i'm going through withdrawal

7. vegan 

there's a vegan restaurant on campus

that is by donation only

sounds yummy

8. french

i miss crepes!  and tartiflette! and raclette! and chevre chaud!

9. italian

we ate a great little italian place,

and i know there must be tons of others around here

10. canadian?

i need to figure out what exactly canadian food is,

and then find a good resto for it.

bacon? maple syrup?

they have this specialty up here called poutine

fries, gravy, and cheese curds.

not quite on that bandwagon yet...

what's a restaurant you've been wanting to try?

xo
alli

friday top ten.

1. a red crayon

earliest halloween costume

which i only remember from pictures.

2. a pumpkin

a big puffy orange pillow type costume,

with matching stem/hat

3. a witch

first grade. i still remember the awful apple bobbing contest.

 i did have a pretty cute little bob though.

4. a black cat

original, i know. complete with gymnastics leotard

and a tail made from tights and stuffed with socks.

5. a hippie

the year everyone else decide to be a hippy too.

not many other uses for the long blonde wig afterwards...

6. a cowboy

plaid shirt, pigtails, HUGE prairie girl skirt.

i think i may have even taken a stuffed horse with me to trick or treat.

regrettably, no cowboy boots.

7. the coca cola polar bear

i thought it was quite the original idea-

i wore a white sweatsuit, my mom made me a hat with ears,

and i carried an old fashioned bottle of coke.

but i was pretty annoyed

when everyone kept asking, oh are you a bunny? >:0

8. 'miss georgia' 

the year my three friends and I

dressed up as state beauty queens

in godawful gaudy prom dresses.

couldn't tell ya why i picked georgia though.

9. a french maid

this one was a buy-n-wear costume.

i added the black stilettos though :)

10. teenage mutant ninja turtles

probably one of proudest halloween moments.

that was the year i was studying abroad in france.

we made our costumes with yellow place mats,

fabric face masks

and green paint.

we even had splinter.

voilà.

a brief history of alli's halloween costumes.

what have you dressed up as?

are you celebrating this year?

xo & happy halloween

alli

friday top ten.

autumny things to do list.

1. make soup:

butternut squash, tomato, lentil. and some chili too.

2. carve a pumpkin.

3. roast seeds from squash and pumpkin.

4. go for walks in the park.

5. break out the tights

legwarmers

boots

and scarves

6. jump in/crunch through piles of colorful leaves.

7. find perfect puffy winter coat.

8. tailgate. cheer on your favorite team.

9. wear nice woolly mittens

10. sip some cinnamonny apply cider.

voilà

what are you adding to your list of autumn things to do?

xo

alli

friday top ten: blog roll.

this week's friday top ten:

(which was hard to narrow down)

ten of the top blogs i read.

in no particular order.

1. CUP OF JO

always has the cutest stuff from around the web.

2. Post Secret

sharing secrets.

3. What Would a Nerd Wear

grad school style from a self professed nerd. 

4. Already Pretty

self esteem, fashion, KILLER shoe collection.

5. my edit

proves you can have a great closet from thrifting.

6. province canadienne 

a french take on canada.

7. rooms and books

all sorts of creative.

8. camp comfort

great outfit posts.

9. for me, for you

for the photography lovers.

10. yes and yes

for the travelers, writers, life lovers.

this is by NO means an exhaustive list!

there are many others 

that i just couldn't choose between.

and i'm always finding new ones.

your turn!

what are your top ten?

and what should i be reading?

xo

alli