OM stands for One Moment. This week's: Odile Chocolat.

I was delighted to come across my first ever online meet up courtesy of À la mode Stuff via CandiedFabrics, especially because I am currently in a mindfulness meditation class that promotes taking things in "moment by moment."

This week's moment? Odile Chocolat. [Odile: pronounced oh-dee]

I've lived in my new 'hood now for over two months. Each time I'm on Dundas Street West, I've walked by a bright turquoise painted-brick boutique, telling myself I will pop in the next time to check it out. You know how that goes... Well on Wednesday, I finally did! And I was welcomed by Odile herself, a lovely French chocolatier clearly passionate about her trade. Not only did she tell me about her chocolates during my brief visit, but she insisted I have a taste!

How wise she was, for there's nothing like a sample to whet one's appetite for more... Yesterday, I returned, although this time not for me but for LeanandLuxe. After all, big brother G and I had to give her something worthy of her gourmet palette. Inspired by the meet up, and in an effort to fully enjoy the moment I asked Odile permission to photograph my visit and she happily obliged.

I ended up picking:

• The Chai Massala (the one I'd tried and adored);
• Romance: Champagne, black pepper, and rose petals (because everyone needs a bit of bubbly, spice and flowers on their birthday);
• Raspberry Vinegar (a best-seller); and
• Mushroom (wild Canadian black trumpet).

All hand-made...

Odile Chocolat: small simple pleasures one will want to enjoy slowly, appreciating the unique flavours fused with 54 percent Callebaut Belgium chocolate.

Taking the moment to blog about this has reminded me how much I love to connect with local retailers, and pick out the perfect gift for a friend. Can't wait to write a about a special moment next week!

Bon weekend !

xo,

tee.

"Dear Louis Vuitton"

Via Sali Tabacchi: Dear Louis Vuitton by Jeff Hamada

I stayed up waaaaaaaaay too late last night watching tv on my laptop 'cause I couldn't fall asleep last night. So when I noticed my friend Melissa post the above image as a link along with "Me too" as her status, I couldn't agree more... Me three ;)

Browsing Hamada's site, I discovered he created at art blog called Booooooom.com "in 2008 to highlight hand-made work by unknown people. Traffic is now over 2.3 million views/month." Très cool, Hamada!

Time for more caffeine...

xo,

tee.

PS - Dear Jeff Hamada - I love this one too... Perfect for the pride I felt after the Vancouver Olympics!

Super Natural by Jeff Hamada

"Three little birds sat on my window. And they told me I don't need to worry."

Found here by hollaholla.

On Monday morning I woke up to discover Sweet Pea Sister sweetly prepared me a special playlist to get me pumped up this week, here is an excerpt of the note that accompanied the songs...

"On this very special morning, I have put together a very special mix tape for you, named MOM. Because nothing can cheer/pep you up, like a mom.. hehehe.

M.O.M. stands for Morning Of Mixtape! It's a compilation of happy, fun, inspiring and random songs that I thought you would enjoy listening to the morning of your big week."

I love my mom, but I must say Sweat Pea Sis certainly knows how to cheer and pep me all on her own ;)

Now to share what I've been listening to every morning this week to get my groove on... Track one of M.O.M....

Corinne Bailey Rae "Put Your Records On" from Orange Films on Vimeo.

Thank you again dear, Sweet Pea! And wishing you all an excellent week!

xo,

tee.

PS - What are some of your favourite songs to dance to in the morning?

A Cuppa Green Tee: Remembering Whale Sharks.

With Earth Day less than two weeks away, I've been wondering what I'm going to do. Last year I held a rolling giveaway as Ecojotter. It was so much fun reading everyone's daily eco-deeds as we counted down Mother Earth's special day together! This year in addition to continuing my eco-acts before and after April 22nd, I'm thinking of catching a screening of DisneyNature's "Oceans" (trailer below).

There's nothing like viewing spectacular footage of our breathtakingly beautiful planet. I am particularly keen on seeing it, since I missed out on "Earth" on the big screen, plus I'm hoping they'll feature the world's largest fish: the whale shark.



Two years ago, at the end of January, I surprised my family with a visit to the Philippines. My one request was for Big Brother G and I to take a mini-backpacking adventure during my suprise sojourn. So off we went with Jack, a fellow wanderlust friend G met while crossing the Lao border. A 12-hour overnight non-air conditioned (thank goodness for cool nights) later, we caught a connecting van in Legaspi to Donsol, in the Province of Sorsogon. Not before a quick shot of Mayon Volcano, considered to be the world's most perfectly formed volcano for its near perfect symmertical cone shape, and the Philippine's most active one.



After securing an affordable cabana on the beach, grabbing some native cuisine, and meeting some locals, we admired the cloudless night and bright stars, before an early morning to seek whale sharks. We met a lovely German couple we'd end up sharing a "banca" (boat) with. To this day I only regret we forgot to exchange email addresses with... They had an underwater camera!



It was a long hot day, chartering the banca in search of whale sharks. One false alarm jump in to the water, found me panicking that I couldn't swim. Lesson learned: the quickest way to drown is to panic. Thankfully it turned out that my freak-out was a blessing in disguise. The crew from then on paid special close attention to me ;D

At our second sighting a crew-member grabbed my arm upon jumping in to the cool refreshing ocean, and guided me above the most enormous creature I'd ever seen! Nearly the size of a mini-bus, it was spectacular!

swimming with Whale Sharks by Photobig

This Earth Day, I will be remembering these magnificant creatures. I will recall how we learned that a small fishing community formerly known for hunting these gentle massive fish, managed to convince the hunters to seek and protect their former prey instead. The very same hunters, skilled at finding whale sharks, now take visitors on ocean adventures of a lifetime, while educating them on the sanctity of their eco-system.

How eco-cool and inspiring is that? Proof that bad eco-habits can change for the better.

xo,
tee.

An unwelcomed first.

The story of my commute life by *Cinnamon

Coming across this photo seemed very apropos since I got my first traffic ticket last week :( I was so proud of having never gotten one (unless you count the time I mis-parked my Big Brother G's beloved red Saab and it was towed). Sorry again G 0:)

Now I find myself wondering whether I should appear in court and argue, or just pay the fine and risk higher insurance. If only I didn't have to travel so far to fight the ticket! What would you do?

Perhaps I should stick to biking...

Never Grow Old originally posted here.

Walking...

Untitled by atomic turquoise.

Or miming...

xo,

tee.

Happy Easter: Beware of Easter Identity Theft!

So I'm normally not a big fan of forwards, especially cheesy the cute ones! However, it's Easter and sometimes you have to make exceptions to your own rule...

Happy Easter: Beware of Easter Identity Theft!

My apologies for the cuteness overload. I couldn't resist. I wish credit the photographer(s) but you know how forwards go. A special thanks to my girl Kate for sending it to me. I suppose true friendship is when you know when to forward and when not to ;D

Again Happy Happy Easter!

xo,

tee.

My first ever Passover Seder.

So post-mini-Michigan-getaway Sweet Pea Sister came back with us to Toronto for a week-long visit. I have therefore been unintentionally kept away from Blogger, and have instead been gallivanting/showing off my new 'hood and covering my face with guck... a.k.a. spending quality time with my sis. To make it up to you, a photo of our gucky faces...

Hopefully, we haven't traumatized you 0;D Can you tell we're sisters?

Now for the promised photos of my first ever Passover Seder courtesy of the loveliest host family a high-school exchange student could have, Sweet Pea Sister's host family...

A few of the things I learned about Passover Seder:

1) It's the best holiday to be new to because it's all about asking questions...

2) Four questions asking why this night is different from all other nights to be exact:

• "Why is it that on all other nights during the year we eat either bread or matzoh, but on this night we eat only matzoh?"

• "Why is it that on all other nights we eat all kinds of herbs, but on this night we eat only bitter herbs?"

• "Why is it that on all other nights we do not dip our herbs even once, but on this night we dip them twice?" and

• "Why is it that on all other nights we eat either sitting or reclining, but on this night we eat in a reclining position?"

3) Along with four questions, we have four glasses of wine (mmm!)

4) Afikoman (Hebrew language: אפיקומן, based on Greek, epikomen or epikomion [επί Κομός], meaning "that which comes after" or "dessert") is a half-piece of matzo which is broken in the early stages of the Passover Seder and set aside (or in our case hidden) to be eaten as a dessert after the meal. Everyone at the table who doesn't yet have children searches for the hidden Akikoman and whoever finds it wins a prize!

After the consumption of the Afikoman, traditionally, no other food may be eaten for the rest of the night. Additionally, no intoxicating beverages may be consumed, with the exception of the remaining two cups of wine.

Now am off to a Good Friday Procession with big brother G and Sweet Pea Sister in my new 'hood... The weather (25C!) couldn't be more perfect out!

Happy Easter Triduum!

xo,

tee.