Wanderlust and Polishes

Happy Monday my dear friends!
I hope you have a great start to your week.  We had quite a bit of rain last night that melted most of the snow outside.  But the week before that, it was sunny, blue skies with lots of snow.  Although it is certainly cold, it is absolutely beautiful and I feel very blessed to have the chance of living in a winter wonderland.  How is the weather like where you live?

As an aid-worker for an Alzheimer's Disease Patient, part of my day would be taking her for a long walk.  She loves the outdoors;  with the proper winter gear, we are set to walk and walk with no problem.  Recently, I had the idea of taking a few polish bottles with me and taking pictures with them when an opportunity arise.  I call this new fad of mine #WanderlustAndPolishes, hehehe...  The lake where we usually take our walks is so beautiful,  I can't help it.

Remember this water decal nail art?  It's been 6 days and look! besides the normal nail growth, there's no chips nor signs of wear.  Mind you, I also clean homes as 'another' job (part-time), I do wear gloves, but still;  this mani is probably bullet proof, haha! And no, it's not gel or shellac, just plain polish on my natural nails.

And here are my babies out on a walk with me.

"And they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of golden star light in your eyes are blue...."

These polishes are called "Stardust" from Avon... so reminds me of that Carpenter's song, though...

I am sending you warm love from my snowy lake... (yup, that is a frozen lake behind me).

I hope you spend some time outdoors too, breathe some fresh air and feel the sun on your skin...
Rumor has it, it's good for you *wink*

Thank you for visiting my blog again dear friends!
I hope you have a wonderful week ahead of you...

Love, Maya

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Roses, Teacups and Random Pleasant Words

"How sweet it is to be loved by you..."
I sing this happy tune while I think about summer with its bright, cheerful and clear days that are so beautiful I wish they would never end.  How lovely are the skies as a background for these sweet, sweet roses huh?  I placed some of the roses in a small vase and I carried them around the house with me in a tray along with my tea.

Step Into Paris | Tony's Patisserie Moncton

First of all, a  pink and yellow roses tea cup for Tea Time Tuesday.
I don't know if this in any way resembles anything Parisian, I heard they much prefer coffee,  but it makes me think of the fashionable, ever lady-like atmosphere anyway.  How about Spring In Paris?

I had this cup with me as a constant companion, back in the days, when I used to work for a travel insurance assistance company.  Have you heard it said that sipping from an elegant tea cup instantly transport you into sophistication?  I have and I believe it :-)  At least it was a lovely refreshing sip in between tedious work.

Now, how about a mountain full of dessert?

Did I hear oh la la? :-)

It's a beautiful sunny morning, the beginning of a long weekend.  Normally, I'd be feeling a summer anxiety, anxious to set my foot somewhere outside where we could enjoy the sun.  But today wasn't one of those days, I much prefer to be in bed.  My fault, I just borrowed a book about tea from the library and it took my full attention the night before, robbing me off some precious rest.  But hey, it's Saturday and there are things that needs to be done.  Motivated by concern for others, we set out on our regular Saturday morning volunteer work.  Come around mid-morning, a much needed caffeine perk was due. We were driving around the area when my friend in the backseat mentioned she'd heard about a new cafe called Clementine.  We started singing the song and it, all the more, etched the needed boost.  Setting to find the cafe, we came across Tony's Patisserie. Oh la la!!!

I felt like I've stepped into another world as soon as I entered the door.  Several times I've told hubby how much I wish that we had a Paris-like bake shop somewhere in the city.  You know?  That lovely patisserie with the innumerable selection of sweets, beautifully garnished and presented.  I could only dream of going to Paris.  And then...

Did you notice those macaron sign holders.  Aren't they lusciously gorgeous?

We sat down to enjoy some coffee and desserts... Chai tea for me with these lovely "Paradis in a cup."  Tea is always special although this one is just one of those tea bags, the same as I have in my pantry.  So-so.  I should have opted for that creamy hot chocolate for the fun of  trying something new. The coffee, according to my husband is superb! {I thought it tasted the same as the kind he brews in his Keurig.  Although, he does buy the specialty k-cups to go with it.}  Hubby ordered some croissants and he gave me a big piece.  I spooned out some of my chocolate mouse into the moist croissants and gave it a generous bite.  Hmmm, it's delicious!  "Are you uplifting paradise?" my friend teased.  "Yes!" I replied merrily, "I'm taking it one step further."

The dessert, the atmosphere and my own little imagination blew me out of the water.  Imagination... that probably caused the experience to go out of proportions for me more that the actual food... oh wait, it's the food too!  Dining experiences are often more meaningful when that bite transports you into a lovely memory or a feeling you don't usually have daily.  At this place, I had a fanciful feeling of what it would be like if I were in a bistro somewhere in France.  Or else, I was that little puppy with eyes wide open and mouth down on the floor.

I am just happy we discovered a little taste of Paris in our own little city. {Take it from a girl who could only dream of France and who've never actually been there... yet... hehehe.}

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I am joining these lovely blog parties:

Our World Tuesday | Mosaic Monday | Rose Chintz Cottage: Tea Time Tuesday | Antiques and Tea Cups: Tuesday Cuppa Tea | Bernideen's Tea in the Garden on Friend's Sharing Tea |    Tea Cup Tuesday on Martha's Favorites |   Totally Terrific Tuesday on Live Randomly Simply |    A Return to Loveliness by A Delightsome Life |  Make it Pretty Monday by The Dedicated House  | Tuesday Afternoons:  A Spirit of Simplicity | Maria Elena's Tuesdays at our Home

If I Could Fly | A Year In The World

If you can have some sort of super power, what would you like it to be?

If I could fly, I would travel the world.
Little wonder I was attracted to this book the instant I saw it in the library.  What a great title! - "A Year In the World." It invokes wanderlust and adventure... lot's of adventure.  Have you heard about or read this book?  What do you think?

Speaking of flying, I would like to share with you my one and only aviary tea cup for our Tea Cup Tuesday.  This cup is made in England by the Queen Anne company.   It is part of a five-teacup-and-saucer lot I got from ebay almost 7 years ago.  The seller was from Australia.  Isn't it wonderful to think how this tea cup flew around the world to reach me?

In Loving Memory | High Tea To Remember a Dear Mother, Family, Friend

"A good name is better than good oil,

and the day of death is better than the day of birth.

Better to go in the house of mourning
than in the house of feasting,

for that is the end of everyman,

and the living should take it to heart."

Ecclesiastes 7:1,2

Make My Eyes Pass On | A Silver Plated Tea Strainer

"Turn my eyes away from seeing what is worthless,

Preserve me alive in your way."

~Psalm 119:37

Lately, I have been into reading and it has encouraged me to try some creative writing...

Here is my take on a simple conversation and an exciting cup of tea.

I hope you read this 

and afterwards you could tell me 

if there is any hope for me in this field, haha!

Have a great day!

The Tea Party | Tea Time Tuesdays

The Tea Party

~Jessica Nelson North

"I had a little tea party

This afternoon at three.

'Twas very small-

Three guests in all-

Just I, myself and me.

Myself ate all the sandwiches,

While I drank up the tea;

'Twas also I who ate the pie

And passed the cake to me."

Some Wedding Reflections | Tea Time

Over the weekend, hubby and I attended a beautiful wedding.  Those invited were few, so I was over the moon privileged to have been a part of it.  The occasion felt very intimate and romantic.  Upon arrival at the hall, the bride and groom were at the door greeting and welcoming visitors.  It was something new.  At first I felt like, "Oh dear bride, why are you here?  Rest in a room somewhere..."  I was meditating on typical weddings were the guests and the groom waits with much anticipation for the arrival of the bride and everyone awed by her beauty and gown. Then she said: "I feel very nervous.  This way, I get to visit with my guests already and get comfortable.  Once I walk down the aisle, I won't have that awkward feeling anymore.  They are my friends!"  Ah, I never thought of that before... I guess if there is one do-over about my own wedding, this would be it {{ All the guests were inside the hall, they were early.  I arrived with my entourage just in time, I haven't seen my friends and family yet.  When I entered the hall, there they were, all staring at me.  Tears... Yes, I was nervous and excited at the same time.  Such loving but expectant eyes, I couldn't help it.... Tears...}} For my friend though, she and her groom were the first to arrive at the hall.  By the time the wedding started, they know each and every single one in the audience.