And tonight, “things I love” also means “things I will soon be enjoying.” For cheap! YAY!

- Coco

On our trip to Portugal last year, we documented our travels through pictures of our feet/shoes. But this summer we’re not taking any trips together, and so we haven’t been able to take those fabulous pictures together. But I’ve been documenting my (extremely boring and uneventful) summer with “shoe” pictures anyway. And now I’ve decided to publish this odd habit of mine so our lovely readers could see what I’ve been up to this summer…

My “little” cousins came to visit from Portugal, which meant I had an excuse to take some days off work. It also gave me an excuse to get a pedicure

I spend most of my time at work. Obviously, I’m a very hard-working employee.

(Brown Leather Sandals from Steve Madden)

I’ve been to two Jays game this summer. Which is about two more times than ever before in my entire life. I am sad to report that Cracker Jacks are not sold at the Sky Dome. They do sell peanuts though!

(White Chuck Taylors)

I’ve spent a lot of time at my new house (we move in August 25th). You can usually find me there after work, helping with cleaning and other random jobs. This picture was obviously not taken on a “work” day.

(Gold Steve Madden Sandals)

I get suckered into attending my brother’s soccer academy practices. Due to an injury, he spends a lot of time on the bench. Needless to say, it’s a pretty boring few hours for the both of us.

(Perry Ellis Boat Shoes – 75% off!)

Meet my little friend, Figo. I’m dog-sitting him while my cousins are in Portugal. He keeps me company at work and yaps ferociously at anyone who walks by.

(White leather loafers. Bought them at a Portuguese market for 10 Euros. I also have them in blue and red. Haha)

And this is me today. Working hard on a Friday. Don’t mind the hideous mosquitoe bites on my legs.

(Tan leather sandals with wooden heel from FCUK – also 75% off!)

“Once we make our relationship choices in an adult way, a prospective partner who is unavailable, nonreciprocal, or not open to processing feelings and issues, becomes, by those very facts, unappealing. Once we love ourselves, people no longer look good to us unless they are good for us.”

- David Richo, How to Be an Adult in Relationships

Marriage is about sharing.

She wanted his crayons and he wanted her cookies.

Win-win.

I have so much respect for this guy, because as much as he might doubt it at times, he’s got it all together. And having it all together, in my opinion, is about acknowledging that in life, you won’t always have it all together. There are times that absolutely suck, when you feel like you’re not doing things right. So instead of feeling sorry for yourself, do something about it. It won’t fix things overnight, of course, but it will over time. And while you’re waiting, you at least have the feeling that you’ve got some control.

This friend of ours (who I hope doesn’t mind that I referenced him in our blog) was advised by a counsellor to take 20 minutes out of his day, no matter what he was doing or where he was, for self-reflection. I don’t think it mattered what he thought about, but just 20 minutes to remove himself from everything and just be… it seems important. It seems like something we should all do for ourselves.

Now for me, it’s not such a priority since I’m often alone, often lost in my own thoughts. I think that’s my problem, that I should instead take 20 minutes out of every day to reflect on others. Or what I should do for them, not for myself.

The message I take from our friend’s experience is that life can be immensely challenging, but it’s not impossible. And that I should do everything I can to make my life the way I know it should be.

-Coco

Thank you, Matt Dorfman, for being so truly awesome and designing this amazing invite.

(A note to our friends and boyfriends: we are not thinking of getting married anytime soon and thus have no real use for wedding invitations– we’re just suckers for a good love story.)

“Wouldn’t it be fun if all the castles in the air which we make could come true, and we could live in them?” said Jo, after a little pause.

“I’ve made such quantities it would be hard to choose which I’d have,” said Laurie, lying flat, and throwing cones at the squirrel who had betrayed him.

“You’d have to take your favourite one. What is it?” asked Meg.

“If I tell mine, will you tell yours?”

“Yes, if the girls will too.”

“We will. Now, Laurie!”

“After I’d seen as much of the world as I want to, I’d like to settle in Germany, and have just as much music as I choose. I’m to be a famous musician myself, and all creation is to rush to hear me; and I’m never to be bothered about money or business, but just enjoy myself, and live for what I like. What’s yours, Meg?”

Margaret seemed to find it a little hard to tell hers, and moved a brake before her face, as if to disperse imaginary gnats, while she said, slowly, “I should like a lovely house, full of all sorts of luxurious things; nice food, pretty clothes, handsome furniture, pleasant people, and heaps of money. I am to be mistress of it, and manage it as I like, with plenty of servants, so I never need work a bit. How I should enjoy it! For I wouldn’t be idle, but do good, and make every one love me dearly.”

“Wouldn’t you have a master for your castle in the air?” asked Laurie, slyly.

“I said ‘pleasant people,’ you know;” and Meg carefully tied up her shoe as she spoke, so that no one saw her face.

“Why don’t you say you’d have a splendid, wise, good husband, and some angelic little children? You know your castle wouldn’t be perfect without,” said blunt Jo, who had no tender fancies yet, and rather scorned romance, except in books.

“You’d have nothing but horses, inkstands, and novels in yours,” answered Meg, petulantly.

“Wouldn’t I, though! I’d have a stable full of Arabian steeds, rooms piled with books, and I’d write with a magical inkstand, so that my works should be as famous as Laurie’s music. I want to do something splendid before I go into my castle,– something heroic, or wonderful,– that won’t be forgotten after I’m dead. I don’t know what, but I’m on the watch for it, and mean to astonish you all, some day. I think I shall write books, and get rich and famous; that would suit me, so that is my favourite dream.”

“Mine is to stay at home safe with father and mother, and help take care of the family,” said Beth, contentedly.

“Don’t you wish for anything else?” asked Laurie.

“Since I had my little piano I am perfectly satisfied. I only wish we may all keep well, and be together; nothing else.”

“I have lots of wishes; but the pet one is to be an artist, and go to Rome, and do fine pictures, and be the best artist in the whole world,” was Amy’s modest desire.

“We’re an ambitious set, aren’t we? Every one of us, but Beth, wants to be rich and famous, and gorgeous in every respect. I do wonder if any of us will ever get our wishes,” said Laurie, chewing grass, like a meditative calf.

“I’ve got the key to my castle in the air; but whether I can unlock the door, remains to be seen,” observed Jo, mysteriously.

From “Chapter 13: Castles in the Air.” Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott.

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost;

that is where they should be. 

Now put the foundations under them.

-Henry David Thoreau

And will you succeed?

Yes! You will indeed!

(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

Maybe it’s the kid in me that delights in the backwardness of eating pancakes at 6:00pm; maybe after a tough day at work, a hearty breakfast is the perfect energizer. Who knows?

Now to convince my mom that scrapping her carefully planned and balanced meal in favour of a plateful of bacon is a good idea…

If you’re craving breakfast for dinner like I am, try some of the recipes after the jump!

-Coco

French Toast

INGREDIENTS
6 thick slices sourdough bread
2 eggs
2/3 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
Beat together egg, milk, spices and vanilla.
Heat a lightly oiled griddle of skillet over medium-high flame.
Dunk each slice of bread in egg mixture, soaking both sides. Place in pan, and cook on both sides until golden. Serve hot.

Blueberry Pancakes

INGREDIENTS
2 eggs, separated
1 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
3 tablespoons sugar
3/4 teasooon salt
1 cup milk
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup fresh or frozen thawed blueberries, rinsed
DIRECTIONS:
In a small bowl, beat egg whites until stiff; set aside.
In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Beat egg yolks in a medium mixing bowl; add milk and melted butter. Stir egg mixture into dry ingredients; mix until batter is smooth and stir in blueberries. Fold in beaten egg whites. Bake on hot greased griddle.

I’m really not an egg person (I only like them in french toast, actually, otherwise I abhor them), but you can check out Allrecipes.com for the Top 20 Best Omelet recipes!

Bon appetite!