It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To

A full and emotional weekend. Emma had her high school graduation ceremony and prom yesterday. I am so proud of the person she is. I have always stressed to my girls that what is important is inside and not just outside, but will you let me tell you how very beautiful she was yesterday?

Did I cry at her ceremony? I cried before it even started when I tried to say a few words to her as she left to join her fellow students.

Today was also special. For those of you who visit my blog from elsewhere, today is Canada's birthday.  And it also happens to be my birthday although I feel like a youngster compared to her at 145.

The photo at the top shows the birthday gifts I received in the mail from my sister Nancy and her family. What a collection of beautiful things from people I love and admire: gorgeous earrings made by Nancy that I am wearing right now, napkins and a dish made by Bookhou and sticky notes featuring the beautiful paintings of Geninne. I'll admit it. I cried when I opened the gift.

I received the loveliest gifts from Jocelyn, Emma and Chloé: a stack of CDs, gift cards from iTunes, a collection of Woody Allen movies, flavoured olive oils, tea, and a big surprise--an iPad. I hope I get to use it  sometimes as it has been very popular in our house today.  Jocelyn gave me the iPad accompanied by the same Hallmark card he has given me at least twice before. Pretty sweet.  All in all, a lovely weekend. Hope you all have had one too. A big Canadian birthday hug to you all. xo

Uppercase

I just received my first issue of Uppercase magazine.  It arrived cold and frosty from our street mailbox.  Oh how I enjoy opening envelopes with my name on them. I love the soft feel of this magazine's beautiful coverstock, its gorgeous inky smell and the promise of its pages. I cannot wait to dive into it.

I am so thankful for the creative friends I have made this past year. I didn't even know about this magazine before taking a workshop with the wonderful Mexican artist Geninne, hosted by the amazing Canadian duo who own Bookhou in Toronto this past summer. I heard participants talking about it and then saw mentions of it on Geninne's blog. I particularly love the fact that it is produced in Canada. I put Uppercase on my Christmas list and was lucky enough that my lovely daughters subscribed to it for me.