Foto Friday: week 30

It's still Friday, so this post isn't late, though I almost forgot to post it! Because I don't work in the summer, I can never keep track of what day it is and thought today was Monday all day long! The last two weeks have been a blast between the wedding we attended in Toronto and the quick trip to NYC we made a day after the celebrations ended. Good times aside, I'm exhausted and so glad to be sleeping in my own bed again! I can't believe I only have one more month of vacation left! Ack!

[day 204: Family shot from day 3 of last week's wedding festivities.]

[day 205: Finally loaded a roll of film into my dad's old camera. Now, if only I can figure out what all the dials on the lens mean.]

[day 206: Driving along *Big Tree Road* on our way to NYC. Google Maps, are you sure this is the *quickest* route?]

[day 207: *Make Your Own Muppet* at FAO Schwarz, Manhattan, NY.]

[day 208: A little bit of life trying to poke through a disgusting subway grate in Brooklyn.]

[day 209: How could I not post that face?]

[day 210: Best iced coffee enroute? Exit 191A at my favourite gas station: Sheetz!]

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Foto Friday: week 29

I'm lucky to have a few moments *between* functions of a 3-day Indian wedding we are attending this week. So far, all the ceremonies have been beautiful and the food has been delicious! Indio has been a trooper, always the first on the dance floor, but also the first to go to bed. This morning was the actual wedding ceremony and I'm hoping to get a short nap in before tonight's reception.

[day 197: E teaching his class at summer camp...Indy helping out in the background.]

[day 198: Bubble mowers work best on green carpet.]

[day 199: Finally sending some long-overdue snail mail on its way.]

[day 200: Summer means dinner on the veranda, chilled rosé in my glass.]

[day 201: First time on the bouncy motorcycle.]

[day 202: Day 1 of the 3-day wedding [see the bride in last week's photos.]--giving the dhol player a hand.]

[day 203: Day 2 of the 3-day wedding--getting ready for the mehndi party.]

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Well Fed: Hakka No. 1

[gargantuan-sized portion of Hakka noodles. pop can inserted to show scale of mountain of noodles!]

Since meeting E I've often reminisced about eating Hakka Chinese food in India and Canada, professing that it is even tastier than *regular* Chinese food [which I also love!]. To me, Hakka just means *Indian-Chinese food* because my first introduction to its deliciousness was on a visit to New Delhi. We traveled by scooter to pick up little baggies of Chicken Corn Soup, Hakka Noodles and Manchurian Chicken. [no cute takeout boxes here!] I remember licking my lips in anticipation as I wondered how these thin little baggies, kept closed with only a feeble knot, were going to make it all the way home without splitting open on my lap. Since that trip I have come across Hakka cuisine in Toronto and, though nothing quite compares to the food I had in India, many come close!

While running errands today, E and I both stated *we were hungry* as we often do when we leave the house at about the exact time we should be eating lunch. Today was definitely our lucky day as we stumbled across Hakka No. 1. Hakka No. 1's website defines Hakka cuisine as "a Chinese and Indian fusion." We decided to pop in for their $5.50 lunch specials, which included a vegetable spring roll and a can of pop. [soda, what a rare indulgence!] How can you beat that price?

E had the Chilli Chicken with rice and I had the Chicken Hakka Noodles. To say the portions were large is a bit of an understatement. I packed up more than half my noodles to take home. E and I loved our dishes, but we still needed the real critic to weigh-in: Indio approved of both dishes, though the Chili Chicken was a bit spicy for him. [He loved the play-ability of the noodles and being fed with chopsticks.]

If you're in the Finch Ave & Weston Rd area, definitely do give Hakka No. 1 a try!

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From the mouths of babes

Conversation between a friend and her 3-yr daughter overheard at E's soccer game.

Mom: Ally, what do you have there? [trying to see what's in Ally's hand.]
Ally: A pony[tail holder].
Mom: [quickly snatching object] Ah no, Ally, that's not a pony! [as she tries to discreetly throw the used condom rim away from her daughter.]

Ally is not pleased.

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Foto Friday: week 28

I finally feel like I'm on top of things. [Ok, so there are still loads of laundry to be folded, but at least my Project 365 is up to date!] Without the schedule of work, the days seem to melt into one another as we try to stay cool during the *heat wave*. Luckily, I managed a shot from each of those sticky days this past week!

[day 190: Waiting patiently for a haircut.]

[day 191: This bride-to-be isn't afraid to get her hands dirty with a tasty Terroni's pizza.]

[day 192: New haircut & an impromptu dip in the wading pool.]

[day 193: Woah, real chickens on our neighbour's front lawn. Is this legal???]

[day 194: Indy's loves to shove these puzzle pieces between the glass and the screen on our windows. Lucky me, I get to fish them out oh, about 20 times a day!]

[day 195: Driveway critter basking in the sun.]

[day 196: First Rose of Sharon bloom in our front yard.]

Hope you're gearing up for a fantastic weekend! What are you doing to stay cool?

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What I loved in June...

I can't believe we're already into JULY! June was a complete blur with E out of town for most of the month, school winding down, and then E and I gearing up for our mini-retreat. It's a short list this month, but these are the things I couldn't live without:

1. Audiobooks. I am indebted to the Toronto Public Library for keeping me well-stocked with the latest *books on tape* for my ridiculous rush hour commute. I can put any book on hold and the new releases have a much shorter wait time than the print versions. A completely unexpected plus: Indio seems to be easily lulled to sleep in the car by the voices of the readers. And I finally feel like I'm *reading* almost as much as I used to! This is definitely a great alternative to attempting to read before bed and falling asleep with my book on my face!
   
2. With our end-of-the-month trip to Punta Cana, a new sunscreen was in order. I picked up a tube of Lancaster Face & Body Ultra Soothing Lotion SPF 30+ suncare, which is very light and absorbed quickly into my skin so I wasn't covered in sand when I walked on the beach. It's a great everyday lotion too because it has a mild scent, which isn't overpowering like most sunscreens.
3. Fresh veggies from the garden. Yes, our garden! Ok, so we've only tasted the leaf lettuce so far, but it's great! Can't wait for the tomatoes and peppers to be ready. Unfortunately, we left the broccoli too long that it went to seed.^via
4. And finally, the best thing about June: No more pencils! No more books! No more teachers' dirty looks! After a year that seemed to go on forever, school is finally out for summer vacation. Two months of hanging out with my boys!
   

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Foto Friday: week 27

A truncated week, but at least I'm back on schedule. This week has been a whirlwind, and I did manage to find a photo op in each day!

[day 186: I can't get enough of this kid!]

[day 187: Thankfully, everything is going to be alright.]

[day 188: Dog days of summer.]

[day 189: Venturing into the wading pool.]

Hope you all are having a fabulous week! Happy weekend!

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It's a Photo Swap!

I recently joined Rhianne's [from For the easily distracted...] second annual photo swap. This is my first foray into the world of online swaps, though I've been intrigued for sometime now, especially reading about all the wonderful swaps Faiza is a part of.

I chose this swap as my first because of its simple rules:

"Each photoswapper either takes a roll of film
or buys a disposable camera

it has to be something that you develop
and they take photos just for their swap partner,
then send the cameras/films to each other
and develop the other persons photos.
(and posts them on their blogs for everyone to see of course)"

I've been dying to break out a roll of film [such an odd commodity in this digital age] for awhile now, but haven't had a reason to delve into the unknown. I was worried that I would *waste* the film on photos that wouldn't be any good. But now I have to get over that! I actually have the camera that my parents used to take all my baby photos in my possession, so I think I may use it for this project.

My partner is Leslie, who has already written me a great email and has a fantastic blog! We have so much in common and I'm excited to see what she has in store for me.

The deadline for the swap is August 6. I'll post Leslie's photos as soon as I develop them!

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Technicolour Tuesday

Another brief hiatus from blogging, but this time I have a good excuse: E and I went on our very first [and probably very last for a loooong time] baby-free vacation to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic! Of course, while we were away, I turned off all modes of technology except my camera. I'll post a review of the trip later. For now, enjoy a tidbit of the last 11 days.

[day 176: Cheesy bread sticks always make grocery shopping more tolerable.]

[day 177: My baby has moved onto the big slide...on his own! *sniff sniff*]

[day 178: Horrible phone pic of an adorable cat/ferret hotel.]

[day 179: Apple and ginger-infused vodka--a perfect representation the eclectic borough I called home.]

[day 180: This was technically taken on day 181. It's our breakfast as we traveled business class to Punta Cana. You're not allowed to take a razor on the plane, but if you sit in the good seats, they'll give you a fairly sharp knife!]

[day 181: A few hours in the heat of Miami on our way to Punta Cana. Lunch at Gloria Estefan's restaurant, Larios, which was ok at best.]

[day 182: One of three feathered friends outside our hotel room.]

[day 183: It seemed like a storm was brewing, but thankfully, we didn't get a drop of rain.]

[day 184: My favourite travel buddy.]

[day 185: On our way home from the open-air airport in Punta Cana.]

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