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Guess what day it is!

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It’s the one day a year, where I get to be mushy – Caitlin’s birthday!  Like me, Caitlin isn’t into big celebrations; she prefers smaller, more intimate events. She does however like to be reminded when her birthday is coming up, and just mentioning it causes her face to light up. Normally, we would use this occasion to plan a trip away and simultaneously escape the cold weather in February.  This year because of my new job, the logistics just didn’t work out.  We even came close to booking a short trip to Milan but had to cancel it at the last minute. Instead, we are home this week, just in time for the deep freeze. I know she is not expecting a large display, but she deserves a thoughtful one at least.  Caitlin is always thinking about me – making sure I’m presentable, fed, and ready for anything. She’s one of the strongest people I know, and among the long list of her super-powers are:

  • her impeccable memory,
  • her appetite,
  • the speed with which she reads books,
  • her ability to win every argument,
  • and her being the best all-around wife anyone can ask for.

With that being said, I’ll leave you all with the baby picture displaying Caitlin’s trademark face. Its the face that motivates me, and keeps me in line. Love you sweetie, happy birthday!

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Angry baby alert

Winter Storm

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This week Juno came to town.  There were predictions that it was gearing up to be one of the worst blizzards in New York City history, anticipating up to 3 feet of snow.  Understandably people went crazy – raided grocery and liquor stores, and got ready to hunker down in their apartment for a few days.  Monday came around and the city got blanketed by a layer of snow, but nothing record breaking.  In anticipation of the storm, everything from the subway to the public schools shut down. Kids and adults rejoiced, it was a snow day.  By mid-afternoon, the snow had stopped and the blizzard of the decade was a mere 6 inches of snow.  Continue reading →

Merry Christmas

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xmas collage

Xmas collage of the photos from our trips around the world this year

 It’s almost the end of December.  Yikes, where did the time go? I feel like Christmas kinda crept up on me this year. It must be because we were in Australia for 3 weeks and it was boiling hot there most of the time.  Even with the Christmas music blasting and Santas everywhere, it’s not the same.  My brain just can not comprehend that we are only weeks away from the holiday season when I am wearing shorts and sandals. Either way, it doesn’t matter because I am back in Canada now and it’s nice and cold outside.  All is well with the world again and I can dive head first into this festive season.

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Packing for Australia

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I am so excited that Australia is finally here! This will be our first long vacation in two years, so instead of running around like crazy for a weekend, this will actually feel like a vacation.  But before the fun vacation part, we’ll have to do the not so fun packing part. I’ve gotten so used to packing for weekend trips, that I don’t know what to do when I have to plan out what to pack for 2 weeks in advance.  You’d think after all traveling we do that I’ve got this packing thing down, but no, Fausto is the packer in our relationship.  He just has a way with fitting everything nice and perfectly into the suitcase (must be all the Tetris he played as a kid).  My problem is I can never decide what to wear and it varies depending on the weather, where I am going, and my mood; so planning ahead of time is impossible.

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Autumn in New York

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Growing up, I did not like Fall.  It signaled the end of summer and the start of a new school year.  It also signaled the end of warm weather and the start of snow and frost.  Even as an adult, I was not fond of this transitional season.  With daylight savings time in effect, the days get shorter and shorter, and before you know it, it’s dark out most of the time.  It’s not until I moved to New York that I learned to embrace Fall.  If you’ve ever visited the city in the summer, you know it’s a sweltering hot mess.  The humidity and the heat make most of New England almost unbearable, but in the city, it’s an incubator for all the horrible smells that just cling to you.  In August, when the smell of urine and garbage get to their most unpleasant point, you become happy to embrace the cold brisk air that ushers in the Fall season.

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Happy Birthday to My Wonderful Husband

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Thirty three years ago today, Fausto was born.  The thing is, he doesn’t like to celebrate his birthday.  In fact, he absolutely hates being in the spotlight. So usually, we avoid the typical birthday party and choose to travel instead.  This year, we are getting ready for our trip to Australia coming up next week, so we won’t be having a big celebration either. Since I am away on business and can’t be there to wish him a happy birthday when he wakes up, I want him to know that he is the most amazing husband.  We definitely have our ups and downs, but he has always been there for me. I know I am so lucky to have him in my life.  Before I get any sappier, here are a few adorable pictures of Fausto.  Now who doesn’t love that face?

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Mr. Heartbreaker

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Lounging after a big bowl of pasta

The Day I Shopped Again

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I fell off the wagon.  On June first of this year I decided to forgo shopping in an attempt to curtail my materialistic urges.  I started out with the good intention as I abstained from buying anything except the bare essentials all throughout summer.  It was especially hard on my trip to Hong Kong, but I continued to hold out and determined to not be distracted by all the shiny things I see. When I finally gave in and bought a pair of shoes last week, I was disappointed in myself.

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Pretty shoes

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Hiking Delaware Water Gap

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This past weekend when my aunt in New Jersey asked if we wanted to go hiking, we jumped at the opportunity.  Even though it’s Fall, in the city the leaves are still green from the warmer weather, so I couldn’t wait to see the changing foliage in the mountains.  Since we don’t have a car, this is also a chance for us to explore other hiking trails further away from the city.  We are definitely making the most out of our hiking shoes! Continue reading →

Photo of the Week: Cascading Waterfall

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IMG_8478Watkins Glen, New York

A few years ago I saw a picture of this place on Pinterest. The cascading waterfalls and the curious rock formations immediately grabbed my attention. This ethereal landscape looks like it came straight out of a fairy tale. I thought for sure it was in New Zealand or some other far flung place; imagine my surprise when I discovered instead that it is located in Watkins Glen State Park, near the Finger Lakes region in upstate New York.

It’s nice to discover beauty right in our back yard, and we wanted to go and see it for ourselves so we rented a car and drove 4 hours upstate.  Hiking along the main gorge trail, you’ll be able immerse yourself in Mother Nature’s embrace and appreciate her grandeur.

If you are in the area, this place is definitely worth a trip.

Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.