Monday, November 29, 2010

Almost a century old...

My boyfriend's grandmother passed away last night. She was 99 years old and 9 months... A venerable age! I have never had the chance to meet her, she lived far away...  But I heard stories about her and she was a great person. We were supposed to throw her a  big party for her 100 birthday on January 1st with all family's members but it won't happen... It was my boyfriend's last grandparent alive. 

He is sad and I can understand why. My boyfriend had to deal with death numerous times in his life, including his father's death when he was very young. I never had to deal with death... My four grandparents are still alive (85, 83, 83 and 76 years old!) and I have never lost a friend or other significant people. I know B will be ok soon, it's just a bad time for him and his family. Life will go on, but he will never forget her.





Friday, November 26, 2010

Email!

Yesterday, I received a email from my boyfriend, a sweet email, and I want to share it. My boyfriend is not the best writer but this little email made my heart really happy!

Here's the original:


Here's the translation:

Title: I love you!

Hello my sweet love,
I'm missing you so much, here, without you, it's not the same! I can't wait to be with you again. There is only one month left!
Time will fly by, you will see, I know it's hard being far way, but we have seen worst in the past!
You are very important to me, you know that, but I just wanted to say it again!
Good night.
I love you so much, little kitten,
Your favorite boyfriend xxxxx



A little email like that makes my day!!!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thanksgiving

In Canada, Thanksgiving was back in October, but I feel like saying what I am thankful for!!!

I am thankful for:

  • My boyfriend B: He always make me laugh, he really knows me and he loves me! He is always there for me, even if he is not with me right now. I truly love him and he is the love of my life! (Click HERE if you  have not read about our love story!)
  • My family: I love my parents so much, they are the greatest! They were very supportive through university, I'm so thankful for that. My sister and my brothers are also the greatest siblings I could have! It has been a long time since the whole family got together and I can't wait for it!
  • My education: Having a higher education was very important for me and I'm glad to have a Bachelor Degree and a Master Degree on my way!  I know that higher education can not be afford by everyone. I'm thankful that I could attend university and study something I like! I'm proud of myself.
  • My health: I don't get sick often. But this year, I have struggled with a health problem but now, everything seems fine!
  • My friends: I'm not the most social person in the world, so I don't have a lot of friends! But the ones I can call friends are the greatest! We always have a blast together! Love them!

Happy Thanksgiving to all Americans!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

What I'm Loving Wednesday!


  • I'm loving that there is snow outside!
  • I'm loving  Christmas lights in my apartment!
  • I'm loving  that Christmas is only one month away!

  • I'm loving  that I baked Rice Krispies treats last night!
 

  • I'm loving my sweet boyfriend and I miss him!

Happy Wednesday!!!

Monday, November 22, 2010

I have a date tonight...

with Jillian Michaels! (I would never cheat on my boyfriend, what did you think?!)


I'm now at Level 3 and oh my god, that's hard! I have not been to the gym in a couple days, instead I do the 30 Day Shred Challenge! That works for me!!!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

First snow!!!

When I woke up this morning, there was snow all over the ground and it was still snowing! I just love the first snow of the season, there is something magical about it! Big snowflakes are so beautiful! I can't wait to put  on my snowshoes and go for a ride in the woods!

Here's a picture of this white morning!



Happy weekend!!!

Friday, November 19, 2010

How I Met My Boyfriend


August 23th 2002 was a special day. It was my first day of Cégep. (Cégep is a school you attend in Québec for 2 or 3 years between High School and university. There are Cégep in most cities in Québec. See the description of Cégep HERE.It was a Friday and when I got up that morning, I had no idea my life would change forever!

It was the end of summer, just before some of my friends were getting back to university, out of town! On this particular Friday night, I was invited by my friend Jo to join her and some friends at a friend's apartment to have some drinks before going out to the local bar!  I was 17 at the time, how illegal! (18 is the legal age here.)

I got there around 9h00 pm, my friend Jo was not even there yet, but  THERE HE WAS... Sitting on a chair, facing the front door of the apartment (he was the first person I saw when I got in the room!), wearing a dark blue shirt with some yellow stripes on the sleeves, he had a big smile on his face... I will always remember these details! He also remembers what I was wearing that night and he has a very bad memory, so it means something! I actually still own the top and the jeans I was wearing that night, I'm so sentimental! I would like to take pictures of these clothes but they are in a box somewhere! (By the way, Jo didn't even know B was going to be there that night, funny thing. In fact, B was not supposed to be there in the first place, he had other plans but it got cancelled at the last minute! I'm so glad!!!)

I was introduced to B and there it was... Love at first sight! We talked all evening long! He was making me laugh a lot and  he even tried to convince me that he was shorter than me! I was believing him until he got up! He was so tall, 6'4, and I'm about 5'5. How naive I was being back then haha! (He always try to convince me of things that are impossible and sometimes I believe him!) The evening was going well and with our friends, we went to the bar where we danced all night long. It was a very fun evening! But the time flew by and it was almost 3h00 am and it was the time for the last dance, a slow dance, of course! I'm not sure what was the song (I think it was Nothing Else Matters of Metallica, but I'm not sure! How sad!) and he doesn't remember either but I remember feeling so great in his arms! We didn't kiss that night but I knew something was in the air! He was holding my hand and I just knew that it was love!

The following day, a Saturday, I was working a night shift at the store. I was done with my shift by 9h00 pm and when I got out, there he was, in his old car (a  1990 Ford Taurus station wagon!!!) I was with a coworker, a friend, and we were going out for a goodbye party for a coworker! B was there and he asked me out to the drive-in movies! But I could not go because of that party I was going to attend. He looked a little bit disappointed! (So did I and the goodbye party turned out to be very very boring!)

In the following days, I tought a lot about him! And I was too shy to call him! I didn't even had his phone number, he was not in the phonebook (I learnt later it was because his father had died years ago and his number was listed under his mom's name! And there was no Facebook at that time!) And I was too shy to ask  my friend Jo his phone number! (Looking back, I don't know why I was being so shy!  I'm kidding, I know why! It was because of the first boyfriend thing! I was 17!)

Finally, he called me on Friday (August 30th), almost a week later! We talked a little bit over the phone and he asked me if I would like to come to his house to help him to do his robot costum for his initiation's day in university! I said yes, of course! He came to my house to pick me and when we got to his house, he told me that his parents and his uncle and aunt were there too! Wow! I was going to already meet his extended family?!? This time, I had a reason to be so shy and so intimitated!!!!! Everything went well but of course he didn't introduce me as his girlfriend because things were not at that point!

We had his costum done and then, we left to go to a friend's house. We had a good time with those 3 friends and we left around 12h00 am! We decided to walk! We had to walk like 45 minutes and it was freezing outside (about 5 degrees Celcius, in late August! It was so cold! And I was wearing sandals, can you imagine, my toes were almost blue when I got home! ) We finally got to the place where we had to go different ways. It was at this moment that we kissed for the first time! And what a kiss! I will always remember it! And I will always remember where! It was just in front of my former babysitter's house (when I was a little kid, of course!)! And now, each time I see that house, I think of that night! And I often see that house because it's near of my parents' home! (I have to get a picture of that house someday!) (So, August 30th 2002 is our official date! And the funny thing is that B's parents got married on this particular date, August 30th!)

On the next day, Saturday, we had an other great afternoon and evening together! We finally went to the drive-in movies. We only watched the first movie (Mr Deeds with Adam Sandler) and during the second movie, we talked non-stop without paying any attention to the movie! (It was Men in Black II.) After that, we went for a car ride to see the stars in the sky in a beautiful dark place juste outside the city limits! We had the feeling that something really special was going on between us! I was feeling so close to him like I had known him for a long time! I came home pretty late that night! We had a great time and I will always remember this day!

On Sunday,  he had to left town for university. I was sad saying goodbye! At this moment, we only knew each other for about a week! 8 days in fact! But it was only the beginning for us! 

For the two first years (2002-2004), we were in a very long distance relationship (he was 850 km away). We only saw each other on special holidays and a few weeks in the summer. We exchanged phone calls and emails regularly. That was hard but we made it through it because we really believed that we were a special couple. In August 2004, it was my turn to left our hometown for university (our universities were not in the same town), but we were just about 175 km away from each other, we could see each other on some weekends also! I was so happy to have more time with him! We did that for about 4 years.

In the fall of 2008, after his graduation,  he got a job in Québec city and he moved here (where I still live) and he lived in a apartment with a friend. We didn't want to live together right away because we were so used to be in a long distance relationship! We needed some time to adjust and to do things right! In the spring of 2010, we finally rented an apartment together and things were great! But he recently found a job in our hometown, so he moved away (850 km away, remember!) this past weekend. I will be moving with him in March and our life together will go on!


THIS IS THE STORY OF HOW I MET B!
I WAS 17, HE WAS 20.
THIS IS OUR LOVE STORY!

IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!



Thursday, November 18, 2010

The Day(s) I Could Have Met Him

We never know how life can turn out... SJT from The List who told her parents' story wrote about it in her post!

What if...? What if...?

My boyfriend and I have worked in the same grocery store... Not at the same time! He started his job in 2000 and quit at the beginning of June 2001 (he had a serious accident)... I was hired to work at this store at the end of June 2001... We had a friend in common, Jo, but we didn't met each other until August 2002... I was not  even aware of his existence until that day of August! But we could have meet way earlier, in 2001. Remember, we had a friend in common, Jo, who worked at the same store as us! But she never mentioned  anything about knowing  a guy named B during this year I worked with her and when she was talking to B and hanging out with him and other friends, she never mentioned my name either! Well, she was not the blind date fairy! She knew the two of us were single but she didn't think about that!

Also, B's sister was in High School with me! But I never had a class with her and I never talked to her either. I didn't know she had an older brother. I knew what her name was and that was all. We had a friend in common though!  

An other thing that is kind of funny is that B also had some friends in common... with my older brother! Some boys I have known my entire life! The most surprising thing is that  one night, B came hanging out at my house with my brother and their friends in the spring of 2002, while I was working! (My brother didn't mention me either, but why he would have done that?! He was not thinking at all about his little sister's love life!) I didn't know that story until recently! How funny!!!


What if we didn't had a friend in common? What if I had been hired a month earlier? What if B had not quit his job? Maybe things would have turn a different way, maybe things would have not click by meeting each other at work... And what if I hadn't got that job? (There was a lot of people trying to get that job and I was the one chosen!) What if B hadn't got that job in the first place? What if my brother had introduced me to B and what if things didn't click then? What if I  had became friend with B's sister in High School?  What if...?  What if...?



Who knows!?!

You see, there is a lot of moments that I could have met B! But I didn't! We were meant to meet each other on this night of August 2002, not before, not after! And the greatest thing is that things worked out!

My next post will be about how we actually met!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Pachelbel's Canon in D Major



Pachelbel's Canon is one of my favorite songs of all time! It's so beautiful! When I'm listening to this song, I always think about one of my favorite movie, Father of the Bride! Love it!

I hope to walk down the aisle one day to this beautiful song! So touching!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

 
  •  I'm loving this pretty black dress from Suzy Shier! (only 45$!)
  • I'm loving that my writing schedule for my thesis is going well!
  • I'm loving that I will bake banana muffins today! (my favorite!)
  • I'm loving those Christmas lights! It's my dream to own a house and to do something like this haha!
 
  • I'm loving my lovely boyfriend who moved away on Sunday!

Monday, November 15, 2010

Nightmare!

 

 Every night, I dream a lot and often, I can remember my dreams! But I didn't like last night dream! It was in August on my wedding day (hum wedding?!) and everything was going wrong! I had forgotten to hire a photographer! My dress didn't fit well because I had lost 10 pounds! Plenty of people didn't make it to the reception because of a snow storm (in August?!?!?!)! I didn't have a single picture of me and my husband together! We didn't sat together for dinner, he was with his friends and I was with my family?!? The bakery had forgotten to bring the cake and we were stuck with a little frozen cake from the grocery store?!?!

It's all I can remember but it's a lot! I'm not even planning a wedding and I'm already having nightmares!
It's scary! I hope none of this is going to happen in the real life if I get married one day!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Saying Goodbye

On Sunday, my boyfriend is moving about 850 km away for his new job. I'm sad that he is leaving but happy that he finally got a job, with the salary he asked for! We won't see each other for about 5 weeks. We will be together for Christmas and New Year, celebrating together! I'm already looking forward to that!!!

After that, I will come back here and it  looks that it won't be before March that we will be together again. I don't like being in a long distance relationship, but I know that we are strong and that we can make that work. We have done it before, for a much longer time! (for the first 5 years of our relationship in fact!) It's just that since we have been living together, we have been used to be with each other almost 24/24... We are really close and we love each other so much, that will be hard, I know it, but what I also know is that it's not the end for us. It's a new beginning! Love is all that we need to make it work (and great communication!).

On Sunday, I will be saying goodbye to him but we will not be saying goodbye forever.
I'll miss him but I'm looking forward to start our new life together in a near future!


 



Wednesday, November 10, 2010

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

  • I'm loving that today is a beautiful sunny day!
  • I'm loving that I got new books to read and to enjoy!
 

  • I'm loving that we are going out tonight for dinner!
  • I'm loving this beautiful pink dress (only 40$) from Dynamite
  • I'm loving that we are in the middle of the week!
  • I'm loving that I will be seeing my little sister from Montréal on Saturday!
  • I'm loving my boyfriend B.!

Happy Wednesday!!!

    Tuesday, November 9, 2010

    Ten Guilty Pleasures

    Everybody has guilty pleasures! What are mine?

    Top Ten of my guilty pleasures:
    • Desserts! I think I love every single dessert on earth! I'm not hard to please!
     
    • Earings! I have a large collection and I always buy some new when I shop!
    • Wearing sweatpants all day long when I'm at home!
    • How I Met Your Mother, Desperate Housewives and Gilmore Girls!
     
    • TLC shows (Say Yes to the Dress in particular!) 
    • 80's music! (Cyndi Lauper is my favorite!)
     
    • Gummy Bears and all candies!
     
    • Christmas Music! (I love the Christmas Crooners!)
    • Chick Lit books!
    • Romantic Comedies (My Big Fat Greek Wedding and There's Something About Mary are my favorite! 
      
     
     What are your guilty pleasures?

    Sunday, November 7, 2010

    Weekend Recap

    How was your weekend? Mine was really nice!

    Friday night, I cleaned up our apartment and went to the gym. I worked out well. I came back home and watched some TLC shows.

    On Saturday, I had to get up really early (5h45 am!!!) because I had to take 2 exams for the Student Recruitment in the Quebec Public Service. I had to leave at 7h05 am, quite early,! It was still dark outside! I headed downtown in bus, (it takes about 1 hour to get there by bus!) to the Québec city Convention Centre.
    About 1500 students were there to take those exams! A lot of people!

    The first exam took 3 hours to write and it was quite a difficult one! Afer that, we had a 1h15 break for lunch! Two friends of mine were also here to take the exams, so we had lunch together, it was nice to see them and to chat with them, I had not seem them in 2 months! The second exam was held in the afternoon, but was more easy and only lasted 1h30. I was done after only 40 minutes! I hope I will have good grades!


     

    After the exams, my boyfriend came to get me and we went for a car ride in the city, we love to do that!  After that, we went grocery shopping! I love to buy new food :) I also went to the pharmacy to get my prescription, I had to wait like 30 minutes, there was so much people there! I don't like wasting time like that!

    For dinner, we had special plans! One of my best friend , Jo, (from out of town) was in town for the day (shopping, shopping and shopping!) and we headed to a wonderful restaurant with Jo and her boyfriend: Le Café du Monde. (Click on the restaurant link to see, it's a nice place with a nice view on the St-Laurent's river!) This restaurant is like a French Bistro, I love it! Desserts are amazing! I had a meal of chicken with vegetables, it was so good. I had Creme brûlée for dessert!!! These Crème brûlée is to die for!!! It was a fun evening. I caught up with my friend (who's 6 months pregnant with her first baby boy!) and her boyfriend and mine shared funny stories, They always have a lot of stories to tell, it's hilarious! We had a great time all together. I will see her again in 3 weeks, it's her baby shower!

    Today, Sunday, we woke up pretty early (considering the change of hour!) and we had breakfast at home! I baked some almonds croissants, a recipe that I have not done in months! With some coffee (a Café Moka for me, a Cappuccino for B.), it was so good! I enjoy those special mornings with my sweet love!

    After that, we went to a bookstore because my boyfriend wanted to buy a book about investments in real estate. (He's considering going into that business by building a 4-plex apartment!) We will see what happens with his idea this year...! We also went for a little car ride around the city to see some beautiful houses! (really unaffordable houses, I don't know what those home's owners do for a living, but they all must be neurosurgeons or big business men!!!) We love to dream about about living in such a nice house later. Dreams are allowed, are they ha?!? :) Before heading back home, we stopped downtown to get coffee at Starbucks! The place was packed of students studying! I don't know how students can study there, this place is so loud!

    After dinner, we went for a quick walk in the neighborhood. It was freezing outside, about -3 °C. But fresh air does some good :)

    I really enjoyed my weekend!

    A new week is beginning tomorrow!
    Time flies so fast! I sometimes wish I could stop the time just for a day!

    Friday, November 5, 2010

    Curly hair!

    After I hit the gym yesterday morning, I came back home to take my shower and I decided to curl my hair! I don't often do that because it takes much more time than using the flat iron, but I love when my hair is curly!


    Here's a sneak peek of my hair at the end of the day (it was a little messed up!):



    I think I will try to curl my hair more often, it gives me a different look!


    Happy Friday! Have a great weekend everyone!

    Wednesday, November 3, 2010

    What I'm Loving Wednesday


    • I'm loving that today is my birthday!
    • I'm loving that my boyfriend gave me some gift certificates to use at my favorite stores! (Archambault for books, Dynamite and Simons for clothes!). He also offered me flowers and a card!
    • I'm loving that I will eat cake tonight!
    • I'm loving that he will cook me a nice dinner!
    • I'm loving him!

    I hope everyone had a great Wednesday!

    November 3rd 1984


    I was born at 3h19am on the first Saturday of November 1984. A 6 lbs 10 oz baby! It was a cold day, with the first snow of the winter season on this special day! I was born a few weeks early, but everything was fine and everybody was happy!!!

    My 25th year has been a great one:
    • My boyfriend and I celebrated our 8 year anniversary by moving in together!
    • I made great progress in my thesis!
    • I laughed a lot!
    • I had good times with friends and family!
    • My family and I got closer.
    • I have been to New York for the first time (love it!)
    • I had a fantastic summer!
    • I worked out a lot!

    I'm looking forward to my 26th year of life!

    Here's a bucket list for this year:
    • Finish my thesis and finally graduate with a Master Degree!
    • Get a job in my hometown
    • Find a nice place to live in my hometown
    • Start to pay my student loans...!
    • Get engaged! (I'm ready to take that next step!)
    • Travel to USA again. (Washington DC this time?)
    • Buy my first car!
    • Come back as often as I can to Québec city to see some friends!
    • Save money for a potential house!
    • Take more pictures!
    • Continue to work out!

     Here I am on my 6th birthday! (with my little brother in the back!) It  was 20 years ago, can you imagine, wow!!! I remember this day of November 1990 like it was yesterday... The little girl in pink in the picture was so impatient to eat that cake! (I have always been greedy for dessert, specially cake!) She had great gifts from her family and friends, she was so happy that it was her special day!!!

    (Sorry for the poor quality of the picture!)

    Happy birthday to me!!!

    Monday, November 1, 2010

    Hello November!

    November is already here! Time is flying so fast! Fall days are almost over here, it's getting cold... There will be snow soon!

    What's going on in November in my life this year:

    • I'm turning 26 on the 3rd!
    • I have 2 exams on the 6th (to work for the provincial government)
    • My boyfriend starts a new job on the 17th
    • My boyfriend is moving in 2 weeks for his new job in our hometown (8.5 hours away!)
    • I have to apply to potential jobs in my hometown (I will be moving in January or March, depending of the job I'm waiting for...)
    • I have a lot of writing to do for my thesis
    • I will start some Christmas shopping
    • My mom is coming to visit at the end of the month
    It's going to be a really big month for me, a lot of changes are expected... And I don't like big changes :(

    But I'm sure everything will be fine, I juste have to get used to!