HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

'Tis the festive season! However you may celebrate at this time, I wish you a holiday filled with love, laughter, joy and peace. 

OUR BOOK LIST

These are the books currently sitting on our bedside tables. Can you guess who's reading which book?

          Love is Power, or Something Like That: Stories by A. Igoni Barrett
          The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace by Jeff Hobbs
          The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson
          Elmer and Rose by David McKee

MORNING AT THE BEACH

Not too long ago, Monkey, Little Bean and I ventured off the main road to find Stonehole Bay Beach, a picturesque beach with pink sand, turquoise water, jagged rocks and absolutely no one else around. It was a most spectacular beach and it was our own slice of paradise in Bermuda for a morning.

FOR THE LOVE OF SWEATERS

This morning Little Bean came to me with one of Monkey's warm wool sweaters in hand. She was determined to wear it today. While I do appreciate her desire to wrap herself in a cozy sweater -- Fall is my favourite season -- it is still premature to do so in Bermuda where we're still in shorts and t-shirts most days.

So, in honour of Little Bean and my favourite season that is underway in Canada, I've rounded up my favourite sweaters for the cooler season ...

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

And for the love of sweaters, here are a few more snapshots of cozy street style ...

(Images 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6)

RECIPE: NO-BAKE ALMOND OATMEAL BARS

I'm on a quest to perfect a delicious, healthy snack bar. It's been a daunting search with many disappointments along the way, but I finally found a recipe that is a special treat. These no-bake almond butter oatmeal bars actually taste like a candy bar. Trust me. The kids double-fist these bars at snack time.

Ingredients:
1 cup creamy, unsalted almond butter
1/3 cup raw honey
1/2 cup virgin coconut oil
2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
3 tablespoons slivered unsalted almonds
3 tablespoons dried unsweetened cherries
1 cup dark chocolate chips

Directions:
In a medium saucepan, melt almond butter, honey and coconut oil over low heat. Stir frequently.

Remove from heat and add oats, coconut flakes, almonds and dried cherries. Stir until combined then add chocolate chips.

Transfer to a baking dish (8 in x 8 in) lined with parchment paper and refrigerate to set bars. Keep bars refrigerated until you're ready to devour them.

Enjoy!

THE FALL

How is it possible that it's already November? I miss the change of seasons in Canada. To me, each new season helps track time and keeps pace for the year. 

October was a busy month -- it crept up and then disappeared just as quickly. We celebrated the Canadian Thanksgiving, welcomed house guests, feted a special little girl's second birthday, cheered on the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series races and had a spooky Halloween. 

Here are a few pictures from our October days ...

The AC45s moored off Front Street for the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series.

Fun at Horseshoe Bay with Ellen

This sweet one is two years old!

It's getting spooky in Bermuda.

A cheerleader and Superman

HAPPY WEEKEND!

The weekend is here! I'm looking forward to getting out on the water for my third sailing race. I will be participating in Bart's Bash. It is a charity regatta held all over the world in support of the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation, an organization that encourages and inspires young people to succeed and discover their potential through sailing.

And here's a song for your weekend ... Sail by AWOLNATION has become my racing anthem. This video will boost your adrenaline, trust me!

What are you up to this weekend?

(My photo of ORACLE Team USA practicing in the Great Sound, Bermuda)

MY FAVOURITE SCENT

It is only recently that I started to wear a scent. Two weeks ago my friend Valerie told me that she wears cologne every day, no exception. She insists the pleasant scent lifts her spirits and makes her feel sophisticated and sexy on even the most mundane day. I balked at this and attributed her love of scent to her French heritage.

Valerie then persuaded me to try Wood Sage & Sea Salt, a cologne by Jo Malone. I'm hooked. The scent is light, fresh and as intriguing as it sounds. With an outdoorsy feel, it invokes a carefree attitude that I find to be a most welcome addition to my regular morning routine. And, the hints of scent throughout the day keep me smiling and add a little je ne sais quoi.

Do you wear cologne, and do you have a favourite scent?

(Image)

SUMMER TRAVELS

As I mentioned, we spent the month of August in New York City and in Canada. It was a family vacation to start, and then the kids and I stayed on in Canada to avoid the heat of summer in Bermuda. 

Here are a few pictures of our travels ...

Obsessed with dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum.

Triceratops -- a family favourite.

Lots of yummy ice cream.

A carriage ride through Central Park. Little Bean was in a trance the whole time.

We found every cool playground in the Upper West Side.

A day in Brooklyn.

A ride on Jane's Carousel.

Taking the Brooklyn Bridge back to Manhattan ... one of the tires blew on the stroller!

Exploring the Growler submarine at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.

The Enterprise Space Shuttle

A misty morning at Niagara Falls.

Going back in time at the Joseph Schneider Haus in Kitchener.

Battling balloons at The Museum.

Visiting the donkeys with Papa at The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada.

It's not a trip to Canada without a stop at the Aquarium.

Pretending in a Pompeii marketplace at the ROM.

OUR BERMUDA ANNIVERSARY

Exactly one year ago, our family moved from bustling downtown Toronto to Bermuda. This beautiful little island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean is now our home, and with each passing day we feel more settled.

It is fitting to recognize this milestone because we just spent the last month off island. We went to New York City where we saw the sights, strolled through neighbourhoods in search of the coolest playgrounds, shopped the grand department stores and small boutiques, ate the best food and just lived like locals from our apartment in the Upper West Side. We also went to Canada to visit friends and family. It was a welcome escape from the summer heat and life on an island that is only 21 square miles.

While it was exciting to be away, exploring new areas, seeing new things and catching up with loved ones, I'm happy to be back. Now, we can catch up with new friends and admire this picturesque island with its slower pace and expected pleasantries when passing perfect strangers.