Monday 27 August 2012

Memories from Quebec City









Hello everyone! Have you ever been to Quebec City?

The old city of Quebec is one of my favourite places in Quebec. It holds a special place in my heart because it was the first place I visited when I came to Montreal many years ago, long before I knew my husband or that we were going to move here one day. Quebec City has the magical atmosphere of the past, and a quintessentially French character.

This weekend my husband was running the Quebec City marathon, and I was thus looking forward to spend the weekend there. The weather was gorgeous, and our hotel was conveniently located along the marathon course so that we could easily go and see my husband running and then spend the rest of the morning lounging at the pool. We rode on a carriage around the city. We watched the change of the guards at the Citadelle. We also discovered a bit more of the local art scene thank to a former colleague of my husband, who has recently become the owner of Le Chien d'Or, the oldest art gallery of Quebec City. The gallery's selection allowed me to appreciate more of the work of Quebec and Canadian painters, and made me fall in love with Jean Barry's snowy local landscapes. The weekend was really the perfect end-of-summer escape!


Thursday 23 August 2012

Is it time?




Hello everyone! Is it getting cooler where you live?

Last week around here the air had gotten brisky, and when I stepped outside on the porch the ground under my feet felt cold for the first time.

I was so excited because the first chill means that it's time to think about fall fashion. Vogue's September Issue has also come out, which is another sign pointing in the same direction. Yet I felt so unprepared for the challenge (the sadness for the theft we were recently victims of is not helping either) that I am glad the weather has reverted to blazing summer for few more days... just what I need to get started on our FW12 fashion series!


Friday 17 August 2012

When are they just things?




This was my grandmother ring. My grandfather had bought it for her with his first salary right after the Second World War, and it was one of her most treasured possession. As far as I can remember, I used to admire it on her finger since I was a little girl. Right before my son was born, she gave it to me as a gift. She told me she did not want me to wait until she died for me to have it. It is one of the last conversations I had with her before her fatal stroke, and the two years that followed before she died.

Yesterday afternoon, during the two hours I stepped out for lunch, burglars came into our house and stole the ring, along with the rest of my family jewerly -- even my wedding band, which I had forgotten to put on in the morning. My dad told me that memories are in our heart, and that much worse could have happened. I know he is right. Yet right now I cannot stop but thinking: when are they just things?


Wednesday 15 August 2012

Olympics fashion and the reverse culture shock




Hello everyone! Did you follow the Olympics?

I belong to the group of those who are not into the Olympics. If you'd ask me whether the Italian team has gotten any medals, I'd probably have to guess fencing. This year I have been quite taken with Olympics fashion, however. I think it all started with the announcement that Stella McCartney, one of my favourite designers, was going to design the "kits" (as they are called) for the British team. Then Armani unveiled the sensible Italian kits, Ralph Lauren obviously was hired to design the American kits, the daughter of Bob Marley did the Jamaican ones, and Salvatore Ferragamo did those of San Marino (full slideshow here).

I have to say that, up to this point, I had not given much thought to the outfits which were going to be sported by the Canadian team. This issue hit me in the face a few weeks ago, during a trip to The Bay store downtown (as you may remember if you follow me on Twitter or Instagram). Because, as it turns out, the Hudson's Bay Company has been designing the Canadian Olympics kits since 2008. At that point I was struggling with food re-entry issues (remember this post?), and I had not yet given much thought about the loss of glamour associated with our move back to Canada. The Canadian Olympics kit did it, and I was hit by a total culture shock.

I mean, why didn't anyone look at the Canadian Olympics fashion archives? I'd take the 1956 ensemble every day of the week and twice on Sunday -- and I'd ask Smythe to redesign those navy blazers. Would it be that difficult?


Photo: Home Trends.


Wednesday 1 August 2012

I am Sally




Hello everyone! Did you have a good weekend?

I know, it is already Tuesday. Nonetheless, our weekend has stretched until yesterday, because it was my husband's birthday and we decided to have not one, but two parties. God bless the summer :)

On Sunday, I cooked for 12 people. Yesterday evening, we went out to eat at one of our favourite restaurants in the neighbourhood. Around the end of the meal, it hit me. I have become like Sally in the iconic movie When Harry met Sally. Because one of the things that does not feel quite right since we got back is... hem, the food. One year of Italy has made unwillingly to compromise on certain tastes, which means two things. First, I am a pain in restaurants. I ask about sauces on the side, perfectly-cooked fish and so on. Second, I do a lot of research when grocery shopping, and so far this is where I am at: local fruit (peaches from Ontario, I a looking at you) and vegetables are exceptional in the summer, but forget the mozzarella.


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