A list of things that give me comfort

J has been sick and I've had a bit of the blahs lately.  So I'm turning to the very best in pick-me-ups.  Whether it's a case of the blues, a windy cold day or the desire to cocoon...here are the things that give me great comfort.

1.  Hot tea - My mom is the tea lady, she consumes 2-3 pots a day (all by her wee self!) and she always served us tea as our special warm drink.  I only take a 1/2 teaspoon of sugar with milk now, but tea with Grandma C meant 'Irish tea'.  This translates to several heaping spoonfulls of sugar, lots of milk and a touch of tea.  J and I have started drinking tea in the evenings and it's become our own little ritual.

{Image from Flickr}

2. Duvets - I was about 22 when I discovered the duvet.  I was living in England at the time and a duvet was the only thing that was going to keep me warm in that deathly cold wet chill that invades your bones.  Is there anything better?

{Image from Flickr}

3.  Cuddling with Gus the dog.  He's an independant soul so he doesn't stay near me long, but just having him sleeping at the foot of the bed is enough.

4.  Pasta.  Oh....pasta!  How I love thee smothered in sauce and cheese.  Too bad you don't love my waistline.  But when you need comfort, who cares!

What are your creature comforts on a blah day?

Written with love,
Lenore

A list of things I'd like to do in my city

Funny how you develop your routines and your 'places' and every day you pass by little gems that go undiscovered...

{Photo from Travel Manitoba}

I've been in the Winnipeg for 2 and a half years now but there are so many places I have yet to explore...Here's a list of places I would love to go sometime, right here in my adopted city.

1.  Ride the bumper boats and go-karts at Thunder Rapids - who doesn't want to feel like a kid again?

2.  Sunday brunch at the Fort Garry, preferably the night after a Hamam...yes ladies, one day I will know the joy you speak of...

3. Take the haunted city tour and explore the old history, more for the architecture than the ghosts!

4.  Ride the water taxi through downtown on the river.  It just sounds so cool.

5.  Dine like a princess at 529 Wellington, one of Winnipeg's most elegant dining addresses.

6. Spend an afternoon sorting through the past at Ragpickers, looking for the perfect vintage piece to mix into my wardrobe.

7. Meet a group of girls for family-style brunch at the Tallest Poppy and savour a decadent weekend breakfast.

Well I figure that's a good start...so much to see, so much to do!

What have you always wanted to do in your own home city but never got around to?

Written with love,
Lenore

A list of things I'm grateful for after being stuck in traffic

Who doesn't love lists?  I'm going to incorporate them more into the blog and I'm starting with a really bad list title.  Sorry.  Nasty traffic will do that to your mood.

Winnipeg has the most random bursts of unexpected traffic hell.  Most days my drive home is 15-20 minutes.  Some days I clock in at a record-breaking 8 minutes.  Some days are like today...

Why is it that you can leave work with a spring in your step, so excited to be headed home...only to sit in traffic for a solid hour when you live a mere 10 minutes away...and have your mood hit the pavement?

I know, it's silly to let it bother you.  After all, we have no control right?  Well I'm guilty of of having the patience of a pebble.  Traffic sucks and it makes me cranky.  So in order to turn my venting into an Oprah-esque dose of gratefulness...I'm writing my first list on the blog.  Of thinks I'm grateful for after being stuck in traffic.

1.  J being perceptive enough to recognize that it was not a good drive home.  J being sweet enough to offer to buy me a pizza because cooking is the last thing I feel like doing!

2. Cable.  So I can sprawl on the couch, eating said pizza and flipping between the finale of American Idol, Minute to Win it and HGTV's the Property Shop.  Awesome!

3.  My dog.  Oh how those sweet brown eyes and snuggle softness can turn me into a mess of baby talk and pure joy.

4.  The dishwasher.  Oh dishwasher, how I love thee...I didn't know it until I got you but you give me free time, lower my stress level and strengthen my relationship.  Kisses to you.

What are you most grateful for when the day goes to $%&*?

Written with love,
Lenore