Category: Uncategorized

Franglais

One doesn’t know what they don’t know until they try to translate it into their second language on the fly.

How did I survive all of these years without knowing the word ‘sloth’ in French??!?

I am a lifelong learner. I have my masters in the school of hard knocks but in academia I am more of a dabbler.

I have discovered that there is no better moment than this one, in this season, for no other reason than for the joy of learning to study Spanish.

I have added a language learning app to my repertoire of pick me ups. Although I am not able to do it daily, or sometimes even weekly… I am slowly and steadily growing in skill.

No matter our age, or experience… we are not cooked yet. Until we come to the end of our days, discovering and learning is a crucial part of our existence. La vie douce for me is acknowledging that a) I am not a finished product but rather a work in progress.

b) we are never too old to learn.

Mes douleurs de croissance

Anything worthwhile doing requires some level of discomfort. Growing pains are simply a signal that we are on the right path.

We are made to stretch. There is a reason many of us get a restlessness in us. Restlessness occurs when we aren’t being obedient to the call in our daily lives that compels us towards loving kindness and goodness towards others (and ourselves) in our present circumstances.

It is countercultural but I always prefer to err on the side of Jesus.

La vie douce occurs when we live by this very simple instruction:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and love your neighbour as yourself.”

It is as easy (or as difficult) as that.

Growth=stretching=more growth=more stretching

La mauvaise taille

I love t-shirts that have funny or empowering phrases on them.

I tried one on this morning that just plain didn’t fit… not just in size but in principle. I am so thankful. I am thankful that not every shirt fits.

I am thankful that not every impulsive idea I have pans out.

I am thankful that not every job I have worked has been ideal.

I am so very thankful that not every way I have defined my worth has been true.

La vie douce becomes our present reality through daily putting one foot in front of the other and embracing the day. Embracing the day no matter what it brings; because each moment, each step is a teachable moment.

Our lives are NOT to be like that inspirationally sized pair of skinny jeans we keep in the back of our closets. Who I am right now, and my life right now… it. is. enough. I. am. enough.

Une pastèque avec prosciutto

I can’t lie to you, I had to google ‘watermelon’ in French.

Language is a funny thing. We can be fluent yet find ourselves making sound effects or miming a thing in order to communicate. Why is that?

I may be a plagiarist now. I stole a recipe. Well, actually I may be more of an inspirational plagiarist… as the only thing that resembles the original recipe is the watermelon. I. am. weird.

I am completely obsessed with putting watermelon on salad. I start with a bed of Arugula (my salad green of choice lately), cube some watermelon, sprinkle some pumpkin seeds or pistachios on top, add some goat cheese and serve with my protein of choice. For dressing I use avocado oil, salt and pepper. Prosciutto is my most recent addition and my protein of choice. (I blame Tanya Lilley-Chan of #selfaesthetics for that little gem.)

So why am I sharing my salad du jour? Simply because when all is said and done, when I look at the contrast of all the colors on my plate, it brings me pleasure. And the complimentary tastes and textures nourish my body well and satisfy me on every level.

La vie douce is using all of our senses and taking it all in with a touch of gratitude and zest for life.

P.S. the salad below isn’t even the same salad I just shared above! It was just so ‘purdy’ I needed to share it.

La Vitalité

I encounter the same man daily. He is probably 87 years old but he comports himself like a man in his 40s. It isn’t simply that he is out daily riding his bike or walking with a friend, but that he does so with vigor.

When my kids were feeling kind of miserable I used to tell them to ‘smile’ and you will fool your body into thinking you are happy. Mind over matter anyone?

Vitality isn’t simply physical movement. Vitality isn’t eating all the ‘right’ things. Vitality is achieved by captivating our thoughts and adjusting our attitudes towards one that appreciates the wonder of our bodies, our surroundings, our community. More importantly, vitality comes from recognizing our Creator and the intricacies and delicacies of this world we live in.

La vie douce is a life filled with wonder.

Tapenade et les pistaches

I think I am forever spoiled by my former life of living in such close proximity to the bounties of nature.

I have learned and then subsequently forgotten the fine art of seasonal eating. Today, I remembered.

Fresh figs are currently available at my local store. These bejewelled beauties regally adorned my baby arugula salad. I added a leftover bbq chicken thigh, some goat cheese and a handful of freshly shelled pistachios. My dressing… salt, pepper and avocado oil. Voila!!!

La vie douce, the sweet life does not overcomplicate. La vie douce can be as simple as taking stock of your resources (in this case my fridge contents) and making it into something beautiful… a feast for the senses!

What are you overlooking today? Have you been sidelined thinking you are not enough or that you don’t have enough? Not skinny enough? Not smart enough? Not loveable? Unworthy? What other lie have you been telling yourself? What other false belief has the world been giving you?

Let me assure you. You. Are. Enough. The simplicity of who you are is what makes you beautiful! Take stock. I am confident you will discover I am right.

La vie Pastorale

Plucking berries from my grandmother’s raspberry bush and popping them straight into my mouth is the epitome of farm to table; the memory of which is so very sweet.

Pastorale: suggestive of an idyll; charmingly simple and serene way of life. (source- google)

Why do we complicate things? I think our overabundance stifles our creativity and stunts our ability to live life as we are intended.

P.S. This blog was inspired by me cleaning out our fridge today. #rottenfruit

Des cuisses de fer

Did you know that it is a scientifically proven fact that naked toddlers run faster than clothed toddlers?

I have been having a fight with myself. I am feeling like I may need to up my cardio. Little man’s cherub-like physique is only getting speedier and this 40-ish body of mine needs some fine tuning in order to keep up.

I love how little man’s brain works. A) I have legs B) I have feet C) I can run.

To implement this daily practice might prove to be life altering.

A) gratitude (ie. I have legs and feet!)

B) embracing my reality (I am fearfully and wonderfully made — strong and capable even!)

C) taking action based on truth.

La vie douce possesses a certain kind of self-denial. The kind of self-denial that holds every thought captive and measures it against truth. Truth= action without fear. Anyone up for a slow, slow, slow jog???

La Passion

I have a toddler with a singular purpose in his daily life. His purpose is to just be.

What if.

What if I lived my life with a singular purpose? What if that purpose is to just be? To just be me. To be the me I was created to be?

My little man knows how to do that. And his contribution to this world just as he is, is enough. In fact, it is breathtaking.

La Passion. Zest. Exuberance. Fire. Intensity. Fervor. That. That to me sounds like the good life. La vie douce. Yes. Please.

(Fyi… this is little man’s favorite song. He knows truth when he hears it.)

Renaissance 101

I think everyone encounters a crisis of belief of sorts in their lifetime; where your fundamental ‘raison d’etre’ gets challenged.

Reverse engineering the essence of you and your reason for being doesn’t have to be a daunting task.

I like to picture myself as a little girl. A little girl who didn’t know hurt other than an occasional scraped knee. It is as simple as that. Whatever that little girl did…. I want to do that.

My bliss, my raison d’etre comes out of me just being me.

You do you boo. You do you.