Some people come into our lives and quietly stay. Others stay for a while, leaving footprints in our hearts and we are never the same. - Flavia Weedn

While walking through the subway station this morning, I witnessed a simple but heartwarming encounter between a young man and an elderly woman. At first glance, I wasn't sure what was going on... the young man was carrying a massive suitcase up a flight of stairs. He left it there, and bolted back down the steps in a matter of seconds. Then I realized that the suitcase belonged to an elderly woman, who was at the bottom of the steps. She was thanking the man profusely for being so kind and for saving her 15 minutes of trouble. Mind you, this wasn't the first time I have seen a stranger help someone with their bags, but it was the expression on her face that really spoke to me. She was literally beaming from ear to ear. She kept that bright smile on her face as she made her way up the entire flight of stairs.

My heart melted. It feels so good to see humans being good to other humans.

I can relate to that feeling of joy after receiving help when you least expect it. But life has made me realize that this isn't always easy. We may have good intentions or a natural inclination to be thoughtful, caring, or loving people, but we don't always act on it. When we're out in public and see someone in distress, it's easy to turn a blind eye and assume that some other stranger will do something about it. It takes a lot of courage to extend a helping hand to others, especially when a positive reaction is never guaranteed.

Another challenge with being kind (or having a good heart) is that your qualities may be mistaken for weakness, passivity or in certain cases, flirtatiousness. Criticism and snide remarks flow into our ears and deter us from doing what's right and saying what we really mean. In an effort to avoid conflict, we live safe and comfortable lives where we only look out for our own concerns.

You might ask, 'whats so wrong with that?'.

Many things, actually. Galatians 6 really sheds some light on that challenge, as we all have our fair share of burdens in life, but we're meant to help each other with carrying the heavy load:

2 Bear one anothers burdens, and so fulfill the laws of Christ. 5 For each will have to bear his own load 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith

A watershed moment for me was the recent passing of a schoolmate. Her passing was the sudden and silent variety that leaves the heart and mind of everyone she left behind in complete shock and disarray. She was extremely kind, driven, bold, and didn't wait for anyone to tell her start anything. Her passing confirmed many things for me. First, I reevaluated the kind of woman I aspire to be and the way I want to treat people. My philosophy stands true, and that is to be good to everyone (regardless of race, economic status, health, whether they're a good egg or not, or whether or not they're nice to me). Don't have hidden agendas, ulterior motives, or a scoreboard to see who's winning or losing. Be good because it's good in and of itself. Secondly, I got a wake up call - tomorrow is not guaranteed (Proverbs 27:1). Forgive people, love intensely, slow down, and enjoy life. I know this will be challenging to do, but going through the trouble of being kind is worth it every single time. Our days are numbered (Job 14:5-7) but ironically, living into old age doesn't necessarily mean that you lived a full life. Make time for rest (Matthew 11:28). After all, how can we be generous people if we're groggy and feeling worn out?

Kind people are powerful. They effectively manage their emotions. They hold on to life's positive aspects and they quickly rid themselves of negatives and keep pressing forward! More importantly, they leave an impression on those around them and empower them to do the same.

I was flipping through some old photos from St. Paul de Vence, and I was drawn to this photo because of the inscription on the sun dial. I quickly realized that the words were not in French, and just had to know what language it was.

I learned that "Passo coume lou vent" is Provençal (the dialect of Province circa 17th century) for "pass like the wind" or "passe comme le vent" in French. In the past, it was quite popular for sun dials to display Greek or Latin mottos reflecting the thoughts of it's artisan, or words of wisdom that reflect the philosophy of the epoch. It's impossible to know what year this sun dial was made in, but it's message reminds me of the Baroque philosophy on life, which spanned the 16th and 17th century. This period was marked by a struggle between two ideologies; the lingering optimism of the renaissance (think of great French Kings and exuberance) and the self-denying, modest lifestyle of the religious and church (think a life of solitude and seclusion). In effect, the population was fixated on both the richness and the curtness of life.

I ask myself how this applies today. We're still fixated on measuring time and enjoying each day (Carpe Diem)! We don't necessarily focus on death, but our culture is fixated on youth and self-preservation (i.e. anti-aging creams, cosmetic surgery, and working hard so that we leave our legacy behind). But I wonder if our society is too fear-driven that we miss the bigger picture. I think we've warmed up to the idea of being dissatisfied with today, and instead, we heavily rely on the promise of brighter days ahead when that isn't necessarily guaranteed (i.e. looking forward to Friday on a Monday).


Before I ramble on for too long... let me end by leaving you with a couple of "Carpe Diem" inspired quotes as a reminder of how amazing and powerful living in the present can be:

"The trick is to enjoy life. Don't wish away your days, waiting for better ones ahead" - Marjorie Pay Hinckley

 "Dream as if you will live forever; Live as if you will die today" - James Dean

"When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love" - Marcus Aurelius 

Make the most of every opportunity. Don’t be vague and thoughtless, but live accurately and purposefully. Ephesians 5:15-17

#5. Get involved and meet some locals. 

At the end of the day, your feet should be dirty, hair messy, and eyes sparkling. - Shanti

Here's a time lapse of the sunset and the ocean as the tide came in on BC Day.

Like anything else worth having, soft and glowing skin takes some serious work. Luckily, with a bit of patience and consistency, amazing skin is attainable and completely possible.

I've always been told that great skin (and health) starts from within. And it's true. If you maintain a balanced diet filled with antioxidants in conjunction with regular exercise, you'll eventually reap the benefits of healthy skin cells. The benefits of a balanced diet aren't just limited to great skin, but other important things such as: increased mental clarity, stable blood sugar levels, better mood etc. :) But that's a completely new post altogether.

Without further adieu, here are a few health-related products that I have been loving lately, and a few more that I've have been itching to try!
#1. I find that smoothies are the quickest way to make nutrients easily accessible for use for the body. I have yet to try this, but I plan on adding cocao powder to my morning smoothies. What's cocao? It's essentially cocoa, but in it's raw and pure form. I've read various product reviews online and it's supposed to be a great source of magnesium (which reduces skin inflammation and prevents wrinkles) and apparently cocao satisfies chocolate cravings. Let's be honest, I don't really know if anything can stave me off of chocolate, but hey - it's worth a try.
#2. It's always nice to know that you can fulfill your daily consumption of vitamins and minerals in one drink, and that's exactly what #2 claims to do. It's a raw, plant-based nutrition powder that contains an impressive list of super foods. Granted, it's supposed to taste kind of "bad" or earthy, to be more specific, and it's recommended that you blend the product with other fruits in order to be palatable, but I'm anxious to try it anyway.
#3. For protein, I've been faithfully using VegaOne for over a year now (the berry one). I enjoy the fact that it made with simple, plant-based ingredients, has 3 servings of vegetables, and that it tastes awesome even when mixed with water.

Skin

In terms of products, I try to make my regime as minimalistic as possible. You've got the hardest part out of the way (internal work) so your products should aid with preserving, exfoliating and firming the skin.

Personally, I like to stick with organic products like unrefined oils and masks. They are a bit pricey, messy, and don't come in convenient 100mL travel-sized bottles. However, I prefer investing in what I'm putting onto my skin today rather than skipping this step and dealing with the consequences later on in life. Also, I'm a simple gal, and I try to use all-natural products because I'm weary of all of the chemicals and alcohols hidden in most skincare lines. The fewer the ingredients - the better.


#1. I've been meaning to try this product by Mario Badescu. It's a spray with rosewater and aloe, which sounds like a refreshing and anti-inflammatory solution that would come in handy during these warm summer months.

#2. Castor Oil. This one was an experiment turned favourite on mine (credit to CloudyApples here). I mix castor oil with organic cold-pressed olive oil and gently remove all makeup on my face and neck. Next, I dip a clean facial towel in hot water and place it on my face to give myself deep cleansing mask! I've done this about three times and I find that it gives my face a deep and non-abrasive cleanse.

#3. Eye Amaze. I recently discovered Saje, a Vancouver-based "natural wellness" store that sells everything from essential oils to soaps. The store smells heavenly, their products are of high quality, and the associates are really sweet. I ended up purchasing their "Eye Amaze" eye cream along with an essential oil for the home in "Tantra". My house smells so nice and I'm thoroughly convinced that aromatherapy works! Any whom - back to the eye cream. I've been using it for a couple of weeks now and I can confidently say that it reduces "puffiness" while leaving my under eye area feeling super hydrated. Side note: It felt like such a treat to support a Canadian business. I'll definitely be back!!!

#4. Organic Virgin Coconut Oil. My all-time favourite moisturizer, lotion, and make-up remover. Period. A little goes a long way and you smell like a dessert.

What are your go-to skin products & remedies?

My apologies for the lack of posts!

I'm back on canadian turf for the summer. Another season of my life with new goals and challenges. One of my missions is to experience and capture Toronto in a new light. There are so many places in my own backyard that I have yet to see. The first one that comes to mind is the St. Lawrence market.



I've had a few jobs that were located downtown, so playing tourist was... a first. I used to work a stone throw away from the market, but I could never find the time to go inside and have a look around.


As a local, you could say that I dreaded taking out my DSLR, but that all faded away once I spotted a group of tourists hovering around the main entrance of the building. I gravitated towards my snap-happy friends and innocently took photos along with them.

We walked past several booths selling fresh fruit, vegetables, and specialty products from far and wide.



But the real treat was in the back of the building. Alas, Buster's Sea Cove.



Finally, number 238 was called and I ran up to retrieve my order. Ladies and gentlemen, the lobster roll.


The lobster roll was everything I thought it would be. Buttery, messy, deliciousness on a crisp bun. Perfection, really. Even the coleslaw was pretty good. Normally, you would think that the coleslaw would be dismissed when paired with the star of the show, but I found it to be a refreshing contrast to the richness of the lobster.

Here's a snap of Aurelie's crab cakes. Her meal had me wishing I ordered a side of fries.



Feeling full and energized, we walked around in the glorious sunshine. Babbling about summer plans, university, and travel.



Oh Toronto, you're such a beaut.

It's been about a month since I left France. Amongst many other things, I miss all of the walking (you can seriously walk for hours and not even realize it), the architecture, and long train rides on the TGV. One of the cities that stood out to me was Menton. It's a colourful city on the Franco-Italian border mostly known for it's lush gardens and lemons. I only spent a few hours exploring the city, but I still found it really charming. In Menton, life moves slowly and everyone seems care-free. Maybe I'll retire here some day, haha. I thought I'd share a few snaps from my visit!




mini tennis (sparked by the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters?)

Citron de Menton

"Mentonnaise" gelato!

The view from Place de Palais

Arriving in Monaco

We took the TER train from Nice Ville to Monaco. In moments, we arrived in the gorgeous and newly renovated train station of Monaco-Monte Carlo. Everything was sparkling clean and modern. It has to be nicest train station that I have ever been in.

Raspberry cheesecake from Caffe Costadoro