The Ally Project

I have moved!

2011-02-18T10:07:00.000-05:00

I have decided to move on and to start bloggin on the Tumblr platform.

You can find my blog here: http://aurelielb.tumblr.com/

See you there!

Product review : Jane Iredale Disappear Camouflage Cream & Pure Pressed Minerals Refillable Pressed Powder Base

2011-02-14T09:23:00.000-05:00

I blogged last week about a few tips to control acne. Today is almost a follow-up post on how to conceal blemishes and acne scars.

I recently discovered the Jane Iredale brand, which is a line of mineral make-up that is natural and does not contain any harmful chemicals. I have switched all my make-up essentials (mascara, eye liner and eye shadow) to this brand, and love it.

I was never big on foundations and powders, but I recently decided to take a leap of faith and try some of their products in that category, in order to camouflage my blemishes as much as possible, and have more beautiful skin (at least in appearance).

The first product I will review is the Disappear Camouflage Cream, which is basically a concealer. A very effective concealer. I have been using it every day for a week and it works wonders. It hides all the blotchy redness like no other concealer I have ever tried before. Plus it has green tea extract and other natural ingredients to help get rid of the pimple. Best of all, it rates as a 2 on EWG's Skin Deep Database (2 being low hazard).

Once I am done with concealer, I apply their Pure Pressed Minerals Refillable Pressed Powder Base, the second product I will be reviewing. I find that for the great coverage that this powder offers, it is surprisingly light and looks very natural. Picking a color is kind of tricky, as they have so many, but I got lucky on my first try and got a good match. I love that this is a refillable container (you only replace the powder inside, not the casing), which is super eco-friendly. And this product also rates as a 2 on EWG's Skin Deep Database.

My only negative about the pressed powder is that it comes with a really cheap and thin applicating sponge, whic forces you to either buy a better one, or, as they suggest in their instructions, to buy one of their foundation brushes, which are very expensive. I would have expected, for such a pricey product, that it would come with a quality applicator sponge. I just bought a replacement one at my local Superstore (Joe brand - rocks!).

I buy all of my Jane Iredale product on the Spa Boutique website, which has an excellent selection of natural and organic products (although you have to be familiar with the brands, since they don't identify which of their brands are natural).

Acne fighting regimen: Cleansing your skin from the inside and out

2011-02-10T10:05:00.001-05:00

So anybody who follows this blog knows that I have been dealing with adult acne, more so than ever since my wedding last year. Since then I have tried many regimens and "miracle" products to try and get my acne into check.

Recently, I have been having some success in achieving better skin, and I would like to share what I have discovered through much trial and error. This is what worked for me - no guarantees it will work for everyone!

1- Stop using face moisturizers that have shea butter, cocoa butter, or beeswax amongst its ingredients

Most butters, although very hydrating, will block your pores if you have an acneic complexion. Butters will affect people differently, but for me, the effect was almost immediate: every time I tried a new moisturizer with butters as an ingredient, my face would break out. You could literally see the clogged pores. So if you have an issue like that, one of the first steps to take is to stop using your moisturizer to see if it gets better.

I have been using, for a month now, Pai's Geranium & Thistle Combination Skin Cream. This cream uses a base of jojoba oil (which is very close to the composition of the skin's natural oils). It is truly non-comedogenic, and it feels fresh and light when applied. And it smells like geraniums, which I love. It's also 100% natural and contains a majority of organic ingredients.

2- Stop moisturizing at night

I have found that one of the problems with my skin is that I was not giving it a chance to breathe. Night time is a great time to allow your skin to breathe and rebalance itself. Stick to cleansing, and a spot treatment if necessary, and leave it at that.

3- Use a cream cleanser

Soap-based cleansers have the advantage of being very sudsy and of leaving your skin feeling really clean and fresh, and tight. But this tightness is actually a sign that you are stripping your skin of its natural oils, which makes your sebaceous glands go into over-drive, and actually cause acne.

Cream cleansers are just better for your acne-prone skin. Cream cleansers clean your skin without over-stripping it, which helps to balance your skin. I use Cocoon Apothecary's Petal Purity Organic Facial Cleanser, and LOVE it. It is very gentle, is great for removing make-up, and has lavendar and geranium to fight breakouts. Plus it smells super fresh. And its also 100% natural and mostly organic

4- Exfoliate and use a face mask more often

I have always had a tendency to forego my weekly scrubs and face masks due to lack of time or motivation. For the past month, I have dutifully exfoliated my face 5 times a week, and done a face mask twice a week, and my skin has been thanking me. Use a gentle scrub (one that has jojoba beads for example) and a clay mask for combination / acne-prone skin, like Eminence Pink Grapefruit Clarifying Masque.

5- Use a good spot treatment

I discovered the Eminence Herbal Spot Serum recently, and have been applying it to my trouble zones (cheeks and forehead) every night after cleansing, and it has been very helpful in keeping my acne in check. It is pricey but you need to use very little to get your whole face, so well worth the investment.

6- Treat your acne from the inside: use probiotics and drink lots of water

I have always been good with drinking my 1.5 - 2L of water per day. What helped was to cut the caffeine I was adding to that. Drinking a cup of tea or coffee cancels out an equivalent of water that you may have drunk that day. So if you drink 1.5L of water and 0.5L of tea, you've really only drunk 1L of water. So I have cut all caffeine from my diet and drink only non-caffeinated herbal teas and water, up to 2L a day, which means that my skin is well hydrated from the inside-out. Drinking lots of water also helps you get rid of toxins in your body, also helping with acne.

Also, I have started a regimen of probiotics. Everything in your body is related, and if you have an unhealthy gut, you'll most likely have bad skin. Since I was diagnosed as gluten-intolerant, I have been really careful (mostly) with my diet, which I think has helped greatly to balance my digestion. But I decided to boost my digestion by adding daily probiotics, which encourage good bacteria in your intestines. I have been taking one Bio-K yogurt (the equivalent of 50 billions live and active bacteria) daily for the past 3 weeks, and I feel great. I have also noticed a considerable improvement in my skin

Any other tips you'd like to share?

My new year resolutions for 2011

2011-01-04T12:03:00.001-05:00

I don't usually make new year resolutions because I have no willpower and would never stick to them anyway. But I thought this year I would give it a try. I don't have a lot of resolutions that I want to make but the few that I do, I am very serious about. So here goes.

1. Stop biting my nails
I have been biting my nails for years and years and have never been able to quit for a long period of time. I managed it in the nick of time for the wedding, but relapsed soon after it was over. I often saw it as the way I manage stress, but it's also become just a habit that is hard to kick. Like chocolate. Or cigarettes. So in 2011, I want to actually do it. Stop biting my nails. Forever. Tips anyone?

2. Amp up the exercise
In 2010, I walked/ran a half-marathon. During the 4 months I was training for that, I was exercising 4-5 times a week. But once I finished running, I went down to a mere 1-2 times a week, sometimes skipping entire weeks of exercise. I blamed it on the weather, on the dirty people in the dirty gym in my building... anything not to blame my own laziness. I start 2011 with a pretty nice gym in the comfort of my own home (treadmill, bike, weight machine thingy), so I have no excuses. Training for the 2011 half-marathon includes runs every other day until the end of May. I plan on following that training program diligently. And on keeping up the exercise (runs, yoga, some weight training) once the half-marathon has come and gone. Promise.

3. Take more care of my appearance
When I worked at L'Oreal in Montreal, I went to work everyday with makeup on, nice clothing, heels. I felt confident and beautiful every day because I was taking care of myself. Nowadays, I can barely remember the last time I wore mascara, and I am pretty sure I have never worn eye shadow at work, like, ever. So this year, I want to make that effort every morning, as part of my morning routine. And since I just purchased some awesome Jane Irendale eye shadows, eyeliner and mascara, I have no excuse not to!

4. Get moving on my Etsy business (allyprojects.etsy.com)
I have the website, the name, the business cards, and I have knitted some items. Now time to take photos, and get to selling these things, develop some new products!

I could probably have added "Eat balanced meals" to my list, but then, I already do that. I could probably do with a bit less sugar. But hey, nobody's perfect. Especially not me!

Natural beauty regime : my go-to products

2010-12-13T10:34:00.000-05:00

Five months ago, I officially switched my whole beauty routine to all-natural products. I thought I'd write a recap post with a list of the products I am using, along with the review of these products and some more recommendations.

FACE
Cleanser : Cocoon Apothecary's Petal Purity Cleanser - Wonderful cream cleanser that leaves my face fresh without over-drying. Smells wonderful too.
Exfoliant : Cocoon Apothecary's Petal Purity Exfoliating Cleanser - Gentle cream cleanser with round jojoba beads that get the job done without overdoing it. Gentle enough for everyday use.
Moisturizer : This has been a real problem as I seem to have a problem with butters in moisturizers ; they clog my pores like crazy. I ordered Pai's Geranium & Thistle Organic Moisturizer recently (no butters or pore blocking ingredients, the base is jojoba oil) but I have yet to try it.
Eye Cream : Cocoon Apothecary's Eyewaken Eye Cream. Wonderful, light, refreshing eye cream that revives your tired eyes.
Mask : Eminence's Pink Grapefruit Clarifying Masque - I have just purchased this to replace my 100% Pure masque which was much to strong. Plus I'm sort of boycotting 100% Pure now because I don't like how they treat customers.

BODY
Wash : I used to use 100% Pure Body Bars. They were great and big (10oz) so they lasted a long time. But they decided to cut the size of the bars in half, while still charging 9$ for the bar (their excuse? packaging of the new bar is fancier and more expensive. I say I'm not ready to pay 4,50$ in packaging. All I care about is the product). So I have dropped 100% Pure and as soon as I finish my stock of bars, I'll move on to Kiss My Face's Olive & Honey Bar Soap, which are also quite big and much more affordable.
Moisturizer: Cocoon Apothecary's Magic Bean Lotion. Delicious. And wonderful hydration.

HAIR
Conditioner : Max Green Alchemy Scalp Rescue Conditioner. I've started to co-wash my hair (wash with conditioner) and now only shampoo twice a week (until I gradually get to no shampoos ever). This conditioner is great for co-washing because it's not too thick, but it hydrates my hair well while not leaving residue on my scalp.
Treatment : Cocoon Apothecary's Organic Argan Oil. Argan oil in pure form (not the Moroccan Oil crap that is shock-full of bad chemicals and fragrances) is great for treating split ends, for calming frizzy strays, and for overall treatment of dry hair. I use it every time I wash my hair, blending a few drops in my towel-dried hair. And once a week I do a hot oil treatment (3 tbsp of argan oil, warmed 20 seconds in the microwave and applied to my hair. Leave in 30 minutes before rinsing well and washing). I've noticed my hair grows so much faster since I started using argan oil on it.

I have also recently purchased Jane Irendale make-up (eyeshadow, mascara, eyeliner). I'll do a separate post to review these. I'm excited to try them!

My year in Facebook statuses

2010-12-10T12:05:00.001-05:00

Click on the image to see a larger version!

Organic fruits and vegetables at your doorstep

2010-12-10T09:51:00.000-05:00

I recently signed up with Ottawa Organics, a company that offers all sorts of organic goodies, including weekly baskets of fruits and vegetables delivered at your doorstep. It has been a good 6 weeks now that I've been getting deliveries, and I find it so awesome that I wanted to share.

Ottawa Organics offers 3 sizes of baskets: small (25$), medium (35$), large (45$). For a couple, a medium basket has proven to be plenty for the week. The vegetables are fresh (usually picked that very morning), mostly local (Ontario and Quebec for the most part, with some out of season veggies and fruits coming from the States), and certified organic. And the awesome thing is that every week there is something in there you are not used to eating often, or don't even know what it is, which forces you to have a more varied diet. And the basket comes with recipes, so more often than not, you'll get ideas on hoe to prepare the kale, collard greens, delicata squash and endives. I have tried so many new things since we started doing this and both Nic and I rave about the service to all of our friends.

The concept is simple. You place a standing order online for the size of basket you want, and it gets delivered to your door in a plastic bin every week. You have to remember to leave your empty plastic bin at the door on delivery days (which I forget to do, every other week), so that the delivery person picks it up and replaces with a new, filled one. Delivery is free, and considering the quantity of veggies you get in your basket, the prices are super reasonable. The only other fee is the 10$ deposit you put down for the bins.

The other awesome thing about Ottawa Organics is that every week, you can order as many other things as you want from their website. For example, I have a standing order for a dozen eggs and a litre of 35% cream every week, all organic, which gets delivered with my basket. And once in a while I order gluten-free cookies. Also, if I know I'll be cooking something special one week, I place an order for specific veggies or fruits that will come as extra with my basket.

CONCLUSION: I strongly recommend signing on for this. Your tummies will thank you.

Letter to my 16 year-old self

2010-11-05T15:11:00.000-04:00

This week, Twitter has seen a great number of people tweeting their 16 year-old self - #TweetYour16YearOldSelf - me included. I realized there were a great many things I would have liked to tell my 16 year-old self that do not fit in 140 characters, so I thought I would write a letter to myself, rather than leave it at that tweet.

Dear 16 year-old me,

I'm you, just 12 years older, and much wiser, or so I'd like to think. I know how you feel. Lonely. You have some good friends, yet you still feel like somehow you don't fit in. You feel like you'll always be alone in the world. But believe me, you have people who love you. And one day, you will see that and you'll stop feeling lonely.

And you know that boy you like? The one you think is totally out of your league? Well, you're going to ask him to Homecoming and he'll say know. Because he'll be going with a girl much more popular than you. And that's OK. One day you'll realize that even though this boy doesn't like you, it still took guts to ask him. And even though he's a superficial jerk, you'll get over it. And you'll like a new boy... or several.

This is not your last heartache believe me. There are many more to come. But one day, further into the future, you'll meet someone wonderful. Someone who will love you for who you are. Who will always be there for you. And you will marry that person. And even though right now it feels like you're ugly, and that no one will ever love you, that will get better.You'll realize you're a beautiful person. And the boy you'll marry, he'll help you realize that. Hang in there, he'll be there soon.

In the meantime, enjoy yourself. You will graduate high school, leave home, move to a whole other country and you will live. You will have beautiful experiences. You'll have happiness. And you will have heartbreak. All of that will make you a better, stronger version of you. One day you'll see.

Much love,
28 year-old me

Gluten-free sandwich bread recipe

2010-10-26T10:48:00.000-04:00

I found a great gluten-free sandwich bread recipe that I wanted to share. It's much lighter than the other breads I tried, which tend to be very dense and dry.
¸
This recipe is a variant of the one posted by Gluten Free Cooking School. I had to adapt it to the flours I had in my pantry.

Ingredients
1 Tbsp. gluten free yeast
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 ½ c. water (105 degrees or a little less than hot)
2 ½ cups of flour mix: 1 cup of brown rice flour, 3/4 cup of sweet white rice flour, 3/4 cup of tapioca starch
2 tsp. xanthan or guar gum
1tsp. salt
3 eggs
1 ½ Tbsp. oil
1 tsp. cider vinegar

Instructions

Combine the yeast and sugar in a small bowl. Add the water while gently stirring the yeast and sugar. Let this mixture sit while you mix the rest of the ingredients. Bubbles and foam should form if the yeast is happy.
Combine the flour mix, xanthan gum and salt in another bowl and stir well.
In a third bowl, whisk the eggs, oil and vinegar until the eggs are a bit frothy.
By this point the yeast mixture should be foamy, so you can pour the two liquid mixtures into the flour mixture. Blend the dough with a mixer for 4 minutes.
Scoop the dough into a greased loafpan - the dough is very sticky and not like conventional dough. That's normal. The proteins that form gluten are actually what gives normal dough it's texture. Allow the dough to rise in a warm area until is is about 1 inch from the top of the pan. Then bake at 375 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes - I used the convection setting on my stove and it came out great.

Enjoy!

The food dilemma and dealing with food sensitivities

2010-09-23T12:00:00.004-04:00

For the past 10 years, I've developed digestive problems that slowly have grown worse and worse. In the last 2-3 years, I would have aches in my lower abdomen and bloating every single day, sometimes ballooning up so much that I looked like I was 6 months pregnant.

I decided to take action this summer and consulted a naturopath, who, by the way, is awesome. She instructed me to go on the brown rice diet (no red meat, no dairy, no gluten-containing grains, no nightshade vegetables, no processed sugars of any kind) for 3 weeks, after which time I would be able to slowly reintroduce foods to find out what I may be sensitive to.

I ended up being on the diet for 4 weeks, during which time I lost 5 pounds off my 130 pound frame (caused by the decrease in calories ingested) but noticed dramatical improvement: no bloating, no pain, more energy and less acne. Also I noticed my frequent migraines just went away.

This past Monday was gluten day: I was allowed to eat gluten at each meals. And the reaction didn't take long to come: by the end of the day I looked pregnant, my tummy ached and I had a migraine. To me the results were obvious: gluten sensitivity.

Learning you have a food intolerance is pretty overwhelming. My mom is fructose intolerant, so I've witnessed first-hand the pain and confusion a person goes through when they find this out. For me, I was relieved to know there was a solution (albeit a complicated one) to my problems. Yet the whole process of figuring out what I can and cannot eat is pretty overwhelming, and I am slowly figuring this out.

On Friday, I reintroduce dairy in my diet. There is a chance that dairy could also be a problem for me, and I am anxious to find out. I have to say though, that if I can have dairy, I am juggling the idea of going dairy-free, or at least cutting back on dairy, as my research has lead me to believe that my acne is probably caused by hormonal imbalances caused by my diet (which was grain and dairy heavy). I'm also considering cutting back on nightshade vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes and peppers) as they have been know to cause pain in the joints, and may explain my constant joint-popping and the hip pains I sometimes have. Something to think about, as nightshade veggies are my favorites!

In the meantime, I have enjoyed my life without stomach pain and bloating for the last 4 weeks, and I am motivated to keep it up. I will now need to find a way to incorporate more calories in my restricted diet (bananas for example) to stabilize my weight, and stay healthy.

To be continued!

How to make your own linen spray

2010-08-26T10:30:00.002-04:00

Last week, I made my first batch of homemade linen spray. I used to be a big Febreeze user in my house, but since I have stopped using chemical cleaning products at home, I needed a good alternative for my drapes, couch and cushions. So here it is.

Ingredients:

2 tbs of vodka or witch hazel (I used witch hazel distillate, cause the idea of spraying vodka on my stuff made me cringe)
20 drops of essential oils (I used 3/4 lavender and 1/4 sweet orange - make sure not to use too much
distilled water

It's a very simple process really. Add the vodka or witch hazel and essential oils in a spray bottle. Make sure it is one of those atomizer bottles that will mist water and not just spray it out. Mine is about 500ml. The fill the bottle with distilled water. Shake well and put aside for 48 hours, to give it a chance to set. Then spray to your heart's content!

Life is short...

2010-08-25T09:46:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago, an article about an old professor and mentor of mine, Christian Navarre, hit the homepage of the University of Ottawa. He was being featured for the great work he was doing with his Car Internet Research Program, a research program that looked at how the Internet affected the automobile industry.

I was one of Professor Navarre's employee back in 2004, and when I saw the article, I thought to myself: "It's been a heck of a long time since I've been in touch. I should email him, see how he's doing, and how his life is going."

Then I put that aside in my to-do list and kind of forgot about it.

Yesterday, a different kind of article about Professor Navarre hit my Twitter stream: the news of his passing, at 66 years old, after having battled cancer.

This news hit me like a ton of bricks. Even though I had not spoken to or seen Professor Navarre in almost 6 years, I could not believe that this man, who gave me a job after graduation so I would not have to go back to France, who mentored me in and outside of the classroom, was gone forever, without me actually getting the chance to talk to him again, and to tell him how thankful I was for his help and advice back then.

I will always regret to reaching out to Professor Navarre before his death and expressing my gratitude. I just hope that wherever he is, he knows.

Rest in peace, Christian.

Comprendre la naissance d'une nation: le Québec

2010-08-16T11:13:00.008-04:00

J'ai récemment lu la trilogie de Pierre Caron "La Naissance d'une nation" composée des trois tomes Thérèse, Marie, et Émilienne.

Bien que vivant au Canada depuis bientôt 8 ans, je ne m'étais jamais jusqu'alors vraiment penché sur l'histoire du Québec. Bien que romancée, cette trilogie est une excellente introduction à cette histoire très riche.

Ces romans témoignent de la vie quotidienne d'une famille québécoise à Montréal puis Québec, à partir de 1643, date de l'arrivée de Thérèse en Nouvelle-France. Les livres suivent la famille de Thérèse et relate tous les grands événements de l'histoire du Québec : le Tome 2 finit avec la Bataille des Plaines d'Abraham, et le Tome 3 raconte l'invasion anglaise au Bas-Canada.

Je recommande chaudement la série aux complet à tous les amateurs de littérature historique. La lecture est un peu ardue, mais les personnages sont attachants et bien présentés, et le tout est vraiment informatif, en plus d'être interessant.

Product Review : Miessence Tahitian Breeze Rool-on Deodorant

2010-08-05T10:12:00.001-04:00

I'm kind of sweaty. It's kind of gross, but it's a revelation I had to make in order to set the stage for this particular blog post. So there you have it.

I've tried a lot of antiperspirants and deodorants in my life to solve this tiny problem, and never had much luck. I used the strong and toxic Clinical Strength stuff, I tried rubbing the mineral stone on my underarms, and to be honest, all of it was a lot of marketing bullshit and not very efficient to actually stop me from sweating and smelling icky. Plus, all the aluminium in these products was bad for me.

When I went natural with my beauty routine, I looked around for a natural deodorant and was not sure what to choose. That's when, after it being recommended to me, I tried the mineral stone thing. Big flop. I was stationed in Stinkville and not able to get out.

At some point, I started following Joanna from Actual Organics on Twitter (@ActualOrganics). She is a representative for Miessence products. I liked the info and tips she was giving me through her site so I thought I'd give the products a try.

Enter Miessence Tahitian Breeze Roll-on Deodorant. This deodorant gets its strength from sodium bicarbonate. And I have to say, it is a God-sent. I have been using it for a week, and for a week, I have felt fresh all day, even after walking in the heat to get to work, sitting in the bus with no air-conditioning, and sitting at my desk all day (I swear, just sitting used to make me sweaty).

This deodorant is 100% natural, and rated 0 in EGW's Skin Deep database. Also, it smells really good without being very strong. And if you prefer unscented, that's available too.

You can buy Miessence Tahitian Breeze Roll-on Deodorant on Joana's Miessence website. Plus there are tons of other awesome, efficient, 100% natural products in the Miessence line that I am dying to try.

My Facebook impersonator

2010-07-27T13:19:00.006-04:00

So I discovered this morning that I have an impersonator on Facebook. I know, weird right? Why would anyone impersonate me? I'm not famous or anything...

Anyway. I was searching my name on Facebook because I wanted to see what my search result looked like to other people. I noticed that there were two profiles for me: one with my married name and our wedding photo (my actual profile) and one with my name and an older profile photo. I thought maybe when I changed my name on Facebook it had created a duplicate account so I clicked and saw this (UPDATE 27/08 - It's isn't there anymore!).

This person is in France, in Angers (a place I never set foot in) and is using my name and photo! I looked at the history of posts on that person's wall and realized that he or she is using my name to join stupid groups and spam the members of these groups with unwanted links to spammy websites.

I am not exactly concerned for my security or anything. But it does bug me, after all the care I put into developing my online presence, that someone would use my name and photo to partake in such activities.

I am trying to get everyone I know to report them so the profile is deleted. Go to the fake profile, click "Report/block this person" at the bottom, select "Fake Profile" and "Impersonating someone" in the options and link to my real profile where they ask for it.

Thanks so much for all your help!

UPDATE August 6, 2010

Thanks for all the people who reported this person! I have not heard from Facebook in this matter. But after doing a bit of research on the web, I found out that Facebook actually does not take action on impersonators because they don't want to meddle with international law on theft of identity or something. Ridiculous. So this person will always be there. I have blocked her so at least she does not have access to any more info about me. And I have removed all personal information that could lead to me from Twitter and Facebook (unless you're my friend). What a pain in the a**!

UPDATE August 27, 2010

The fake profile is gone!!!! WOOT!

The dangers of benzoyl peroxide

2010-07-19T11:11:00.005-04:00

I have been using benzoyl peroxide for years to control my acne, as has my husband. When I decided to green my beauty routine, my BP product was the only one I had trouble letting go of, because I was so self-conscious of my acne and I was afraid that stopping usage of BP would make me break out like crazy.

Then I stumbled upon an article which opened my eyes to the actual dangers of BP. I learned that benzoyl peroxide is banned in Europe in all beauty products. BP was linked to cancer and other developmental toxicity concern. The Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Database rates BP as a 7 out of 10, which is considered high hazard.

So somehow, giving up BP became pretty easy, for both my husband and I. We both switched to natural cleansers. And the thing is, acne has not been an issue since I completely cut BP from my routine. I use Cocoon Apothecary Petal Purity cleanser, and my skin is actually healthier looking and clearer than it was when I used BP. The key is in choosing a product that is gentle, and soothing, while including ingredients that fight acne naturally, such as lavender (antibacterial), geranium (antibacterial and astrigent), witch hazel (anti-inflammatory) or tea tree oil.

The married life

2010-07-08T09:32:00.003-04:00

For the past week an a half, or basically since I got married, people have been asking me the same question: "How is it being a married woman?"

The truth of the matter is, the answer to that question is that I am happy, but I was happy before. Being married hasn't changed a thing in my life. Wait no, that's not true: I get the check the "Mrs." box on forms, and I am now addressed as "Mrs. Lacroix-Barbe". But that's it.

See, I don't feel like being married has made me a new person, or a better person, or a happier person. I am still the same person, and Nic is still the same person. Our relationship has not

changed a bit. We feel the same way about each other, we still have the same plans for the future, we still do the same things. Our bond hasn't strengthened - it was already pretty darn strong. Our love hasn't deepened - it was already as deep as it gets.

I feel fortunate that I have found someone like him, that our relationship did not need a wedding to feel real.

Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled that we got married. It was a beautiful day, and a beautiful celebration of our love. But what it was to me, most of all, was an opportunity to get all the people I love together in the same room (or in our case, under the same tent) and share this with them. Getting married was really just a good excuse to get my family and my friends to come for a visit.

All in all, it was a great moment of my life. I am thankful that I experienced it, but mostly I am thankful that I found someone as wonderful as my new husband.

Burt's Bees = Great customer service

2010-06-11T11:32:00.006-04:00

A few months ago I purchased two jars of hand cream by Burt's Bees (Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Cream) which, as a side note, is 100% natural. When I got home with my purchased I realized that the said jars had been opened before (there were finger-sized holes in both jars where people had taken some product to try it at the store).

Apart from the fact that I find it horribly rude of people to take product from a jar and put it back on the shelf, I was a little concerned that it was that easy to tamper with jars (none of the jars I saw had tamper proof seals or anything). So I decided to voice my concern to Burt's Bees. This was their answer:

Please accept our apology for the lateness of this reply as there was a glitch in us receiving some web emails; however, we appreciate you taking the time to let us know of your concern with the Almond Milk & Beeswax Hand Crème you purchased.

In the past we had shrink wrap on the majority of our packages. We are moving away from certain kinds of seals on the majority of our products because the materials they are made of are not sustainable. We wanted to eliminate as much excess packaging as possible in addition to giving our consumers the opportunity to smell the product prior to purchasing. We received feedback from consumers prior to removing the seals regarding the inability to see if the fragrance was to their liking.

Based on industry norms however, we'll continue to provide a tamper evident seal on our lip products.

Given that the two jars you purchased were tried by other consumers, I would like to send you two replacement jars. If you could reply with your full address I will have two jars of the Almond Milk & Beeswax Hand Crème shipped to you right away.

I am really impressed with their customer service, as I never would have expected them to send me two new jars. I guess sometimes whining works!

Wedding jitters

2010-06-07T11:41:00.002-04:00

It is so hard to believe that in less than three weeks (THREE WEEKS!!!), Nic and I will be getting married. The past year and a half, since we got engaged, have gone by in a blur. It is so crazy to think that in such a short time, I will be someone's wife, and I will have a husband! I guess that now I am officially and unequivocally an adult.

Things are pretty much ready. The MacBook fiasco put a slight damper on things, as all the music purchased for the ceremony was on that, and I don't have access to it until I get a new computer. But other than that, we're ready. The vows are written, the caterer is confirmed, the officiant was met, as was the DJ. Hopefully things will go smoothly, there will be no rain, the tent will actually fit, everyone will be where they are supposed to, and we will have a fantastic wedding. Cross your fingers!

What I am most excited about, although I am so incredibly excited about marrying the man of my dreams, is getting to see my family and friends, as well as meeting my new niece! There are some people I have not seen in a long while, and having the opportunity to see them all at the cottage, which is very special to me, is totally awesome. I cannot wait.

I did it!

2010-05-30T16:53:00.000-04:00

So after all these months of talking about it, I finally did it! This morning, I completed my first half-marathon in 2 hours, 21 minutes and 10.7 minutes. I was able to stick ti my 4:1 intervals the whole time, no longer walking breaks, which I didn't think I would be able to do. I guess adrenaline had a lot to play in that.

Next year, I am thinking I may do a half-marathon again, but in 10:1 intervals. I don't know if I'd be ready to just run the whole thing. We'll see. For now, rest!

Half-marathon training: May 21

2010-05-21T19:42:00.002-04:00

Time run : 45 minutes (4:1 intervals)
Distance run : 6,4 kilometres

Only a week left! I am nervous and excited. Hope it all goes well next weekend!

Update on the natural beauty regime

2010-05-21T10:06:00.003-04:00

For everyone and anyone who is wondering how that is going, I thought I would update.

As of yesterday, my beauty regime only consists of one product that is in no way natural: my benzyl peroxide cleanser. Although my skin is doing wonderful (thanks, in big part, to products by Cocoon Apothecary), I am not prepared to let the benzyl peroxide go until after the wedding. I want beautiful skin to get married, and although I believe that I have found products that suit me and that will give me beautiful skin, I cannot risk my skin going beserk a month before I get married.

Everything else has been switched! I am not happy with my Live Clean shampoo and conditioner though, I don't think it suits my hair. So I am still shopping for a good natural shampoo and conditioner (will be trying Eaurganic products next, I also like shopping Canadian!)

I'll update soon with a detailed list of what products I am using and where you can buy them, in case anyone feels inspired to go the same route I am.

Happy long weekend to all!!

Product Review : Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil

2010-05-20T14:07:00.001-04:00

So here I am again with another product recommendation. Lip balm is a big thing for me because I don't wear lipstick or lip gloss, so it's important that my lips look nourished and hydrated and beautiful all on their own.

Recently, I went to the movie premiere of Disney's Oceans at the Silvercity in Ottawa, and every person in the audience received, as a gift, Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil. I went home and checked the Burt's Bees website, and lo and behold, this particular lip balm is made of 100% natural ingredients. So this became the perfect opportunity for me to test out a new natural product, especially considering the fact that I wasn't really satisfied with my current lip balm choice.

I have been using the Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil for about a month (I got two, the boyfriend didn't want his!) and I really like it. It smells really good, very fruity, and it adds a hint of red shimmer to the lips. Very girly and sexy. I also find it very nourishing and moisturizing for my dry, sometimes chapped lips, thanks to the beeswax and coconut oil. The pomegranate oil supposedly protects your lips from outside aggressions (like the cold, wind, etc.) because of its antioxidant properties.

All in all I give it a 5 star, and will most likely stick with this product on the long run.

Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil can be purchased at any grocery store or pharmacy that carries the Burt's Bees brand. Well.ca also carries the brand, and Burt's Bees has an online store, if like me you are into online shopping rather than store shopping.

Half-marathon training: May 17

2010-05-17T19:26:00.000-04:00

Time run : 1 hour and 30 minutes (4:1 intervals)
Distance run : 12 kilometres

Half-marathon training, kind of...

2010-05-13T18:50:00.001-04:00

Can I really call it half-marathon training if I run only twice a week? Not sure. I feel a little burnt out and although I am stressed that the half-marathon is in 2 weeks, I'm also glad it is almost over and I'll be able to go back to a normal running routine.

So...

Time run : 30 minutes (4:1 intervals) - I am exhausted! Couldn't run any longer. I am so sleepy that it was painful...

Distance run : 3.4 kilometres

I ran 16 kilometres today. That's right, you heard me!

2010-05-09T15:03:00.002-04:00

Time run : 2 hours and 5 minutes (4:1 intervals)
Distance run : 16 kilometres baby!

That was rough. The last 2 kilometres in particular were pretty difficult. I was tired as hell. May 30th is going to be fun - sense the sarcastic tone here ;)

I am proud of myself though. And I'll be even prouder when I complete the half-marathon in three weeks!!

Almost there... go go go!

Half-marathon training : May 5

2010-05-06T09:05:00.000-04:00

Time run : 50 minutes (4:1 intervals)
Distance run : 6.57 kilometres
Incline: 1,5%

Half-marathon training : May 1, 4 weeks left!

2010-05-01T09:49:00.000-04:00

Time run : 1 hour 15 minutes (4:1 intervals)
Distance run : 10 kilometres

Product Review : Rosey Cheeks organic facial cream by Cocoon Apothecary

2010-04-29T16:32:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago, in a move to natural skincare, I tried a Lush face cream that made me break out like I was 15 years old again (Lush skincare contains Fragrances, which I am pretty sure I strongly react to).

I looked for a 100% natural alternative that would not make me break out and found it in Cocoon Apothecary's Rosey Cheeks organic facial cream. I have totally fallen in love with that product.

Rosey Cheeks is great for 5 reasons:

1. It is 100% natural and organic, and is rated 0 for safety on the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database.

2. It smells deliciously like roses (its main 2 ingredients are rosehip oil and rose absolute).

3. It is not to thick, and blends in really well to the skin, leaving it matified and well hydrated.

4. It contains natural sources of tretinoin, which is great for anti-aging and for acne.

5. Rose absolute is antibacterial, also great for acne.

I use this product morning and night after cleansing, and the results have been great. I have noticed that my acne has gotten better, my skin is smoother, and it is well hydrated.

Plus, Cocoon Apothecary is a great company. Based in Canada, it is the brain child of one woman who does the creating, the design, the marketing, the sales... a true one-woman show!

Also available: Cleanser, toner, blemish treatment (which I use and is great), body lotions, and a foot spray (which I also use and is also phenomenal). All are available on the Cocoon Apothecary website. Enjoy!

Half-marathon training : April 28

2010-04-29T08:55:00.001-04:00

Time run : 45 minutes (4:1 intervals)
Distance run : 5,5 kilometres

Half-marathon training: April 25

2010-04-26T09:18:00.001-04:00

Time run : 1 h 48 min (4:2 intervals)

Distance run : 14,5 kilometres

Nic went running with me, so the run was easier in a way... less boring at least. We ran at the cottage, and it was so beautiful out, it was wonderful! Last couple of kilometres were rough, but I made it!!!!

Half-marathon training: April 23

2010-04-24T12:27:00.000-04:00

Time run : 25 minutes (no intervals, just running!)
Distance run : maybe 3-4 kilometres? Hard to be sure, my ipod was dead so I wasn't able to measure

I decided to just run today. I didn't have much time (the mortgage specialist was coming to our house at 7pm) so I figured I would run less long, bt without aby walking intervals. Great workout!

Half-marathon training : April 21

2010-04-22T09:25:00.000-04:00

Time run : 50 minutes (4:1 intervals)
Distance run : 6.7 kilometres

My resolutions to get healthy

2010-04-19T13:56:00.000-04:00

Even though it is not New Year's, I wanted to put down on paper (well, not literally) some resolutions that I have set for myself in order to get and stay healthy, in all aspects of my life. We're not talking weight-loss here. Just general feel-good-about-myself and feel-good-in-my-own-skin stuff that I want to start (or continue) doing.

Resolution #1 : Run 3 times a week, whether I am training for a marathon, or for nothing at all.

Resolution #2 : Never use any beauty product which contains more than 5% of synthetic chemicals. If possible, use products that contain 0% synthetic chemicals.

Resolution #3 : Make all things from scratch (that includes mac'n cheese, apple sauce, cookies and brownies, guacamole, etc.) as much as possible. Controlling the ingredients that go in your food is so important. Stay close to the farm, and far from the processed.

Resolution #4 : Use only natural cleaning products at home. Killing 100% of bacteria using harsh products that give me a headache is overkill. It is unnecessary and will not guarantee a safer environment for my family.

Resolution #5 : Eat more fruits and vegetables! That is a big one for me because I definitely do not eat my 5-10 servings per day, like I should.

What other resolutions should I be taking?

Half-marathon training : April 18, 6 weeks left!

2010-04-19T09:05:00.002-04:00

Time run : 1 hour and 42 minutes (4:2 intervals)
Distance run : 13 kilometers

Only 6 weeks left until the big day! I am getting kind of nervous - I hope I will make it in one piece!

Product Review : 100% Pure Organic Coffee Bean Eye Cream

2010-04-14T16:01:00.000-04:00

I recently started using, as part of my natural beauty regime, 100% Pure's Organic Coffee Bean Eye Cream. The main ingredients are green tea and coffee, which act to reduce puffiness and dark circles by improving circulation under the eyes. It also has vitamins, antioxidants (for anti-aging) and rosehip oil.

I have never be prone to dark circles or puffiness, but I do like to look awake in the morning, which I usually don't. After a month of using this cream, I have noticed that this cream helps me look more awake and energized. It also feels very hydrating, which I like, and it smells heavenly (like chocolate/coffee - yum).

At my age, I am not too worried about fine lines and signs of ageing yet, but I do feel that it is important to use a good eye cream. This particular one is very good and it is also 100% natural, which makes it even better.

Out of 5 stars, I give this product a five (5). Strongly recommended!

You can buy this from the Mint & Berry online store, or directly from 100% Pure.

Half-marathon training: April 13

2010-04-14T09:20:00.000-04:00

Time run : 50 minutes (4:1 intervals)
Distance run : 6.8 kilometres

Beautiful weather outside today! Perfect for a nice run. The rest of the week is going to be low on running though. Tonight, supper with a friend after work. Tomorrow, seeing Disney's Oceans (won free tickets!) at Silvercity. And Friday, going to see the Moulin Rouge ballet with the book club chicas at the NAC. Will be running again on Saturday!

Some advice on switching your skincare routine to natural

2010-04-12T09:49:00.000-04:00

I'll start off by saying, in no way am I an expert in this. However, I have had some experiences in the past weeks that I thought were important to share to other people who might want to make the switch to natural skin care.

1. Take your time!
I am a tad overeager at times. So when I decided to switch, I switched everything. Big mistake. Body care is fine: body wash, moisturizer, deodorant... all those products can be changed fairly quickly without any negative effects. The face is another matter however. After a week of a new cleanser, toner, moisturizer and spot treatment, my face freaked out on me and went all "16-year-old" and pimply on me. I swear, you could have played connect the dots on my forehead. Easy. So I have moved back to using benzyl peroxide twice a week. In a few weeks, I will reintroduce my moisturizer once a day. Then in a few more weeks, I'll use my benzyl peroxide once a day and a very gentle natural cleanser once a day. Then I'll use the benzyl peroxide once every two days.... you catch my drift. Go progressively until I no longer need to use benzyl peroxide. It is even more important for people with problematic skin (blemish-prone, sensitive) to go progressively and not overwhelm your skin. Learn from my mistakes!

2. Stay simple
I bought cleanser, toner, moisturizer, spot cleanser, eye cream, masks... Don't. Stay simple. You don't need all that stuff. Use only what you need for your skin type and needs. Overusing beauty products is another reason for why my skin freaked out and broke out on me. So now, back to the basics : cleanser, moisturizer, mask. And a dab of eye cream every day to keep me awake :)

3. Check ingredients
From experience, perfume in my skincare breaks me out. I bought a Lush spot cleanser without reading the label, thinking : it's from Lush, it's not 100% natural but it'll do. Turns out, it did not do at all! Most of their products have perfume, both natural and synthetic. Which is why it is a bad idea tu trust brand blindly and not check ingredients lists before hand!

To me, dealing with acne is the biggest shot to my self-esteem. When I break out, like I did last week, I feel so not confident and very ugly. So I think it is important to take the time to do this right, even if it takes a year for me to be fully using natural skincare. I won't make the same mistake twice.

Half-marathon training: April 11

2010-04-11T09:31:00.001-04:00

Time run : 1 h 32 minutes (4:2 intervals)
Distance run : 12 kilometres
Incline : 2%

I'm back! Woohoo!

Half-marathon training: April 10

2010-04-10T21:21:00.000-04:00

Time run : 45 minutes (4:1 intervals)
Distance run : 3.7 miles

Phewwww first run since Sunday (I know, I suck) and it was TOUGH! I should really have made an effort to run more this week, because coming back to it was difficult.

Also realized the half-marathon is in a little over a month and a half! CRAZY!!

Half-marathon training: Easter weekend edition!

2010-04-05T21:15:00.000-04:00

Friday -

Time run : 60 minutes (4:1 intervals)

Distance run : 8.4 kilometres

Tough run in 28 degree Celsius weather! Maybe running for an hour in the heat without bringing water was not the smartest idea. Let me think about that for a minute.... duh.

Sunday -

Time run : 49 minutes (4:1 intervals)

Distance run : 7 kilometres

I ran at the cottage for the first time - so fun! Nic came with me and ran the intervals with me. It was probably the longest 7 kilometres he'd ever run :)

Half-marathon training: Day 79

2010-03-31T19:18:00.001-04:00

Time run : 60 minutes (4:1 intervals)
Distance run : 8.56 kilometres

Beautiful weather we are having lately. And the weekend is supposed to be even lovelier : 20 to 25 degrees Celsius over the weekend. It is going to be an awesome weekend at the cottage!

Construction on the new house has started!

2010-03-28T20:22:00.004-04:00

We went to check the house today and construction has started! The footing is all done. It is so exciting! Yay!

Half-marathon training: Day 76

2010-03-28T20:15:00.001-04:00

Time run : 93 minutes (4:2 intervals)

Distance run : 12 kilometres (I know! I'm awesome!)

Half-marathon training: Day 73

2010-03-25T19:00:00.000-04:00

Time run : 45 minutes (4:1 intervals)
Distance run : 6.45 kilometers

Miserable run! It was so windy outside that it was very difficult to run... and cold too. Energy level: 0. If tomorrow is like this, I am going back to the treadmill. Poo.

The quest for natural products, Part II, Cleansing and hydrating

2010-03-25T13:34:00.000-04:00

I recently purchased 100% Pure's Seafoam Cleanser for acne-prone skin. It is 100% natural, and the main ingredients are seaweed and Eucalyptus. Considering how difficult my skin is (acne, oily, etc.), I was very reticent to let go of my Benzoil Peroxide, even knowing how bad it is for my skin. One thing to say about this new cleanser: AMAZING! The Eucalyptus is very refreshing and the seaweed makes for a very matifying result. I am very happy with the results. Plus, it seems that stopping the Benzoil Peroxide has not affected my acne, I find it is actually getting better, with pimples drying up much faster. This seems to be a good natural alternative for acne medications. YAY!

I also bought the Mint toner from 100% Pure, also for acne-prone skin. I use toner only 2-3 times a week, in the morning. I like this one, it is also very refreshing and does not dry my face too quickly. Toner has had a history of making me break out, but so far, this has been good. To be continued!

Finally, I bought Lush's Vanishing Cream for hydration. It's amazing. Just moisturizing enough for me and also matifying. I find that since I started with it, I haven't had to blot nearly as often during the day to get rid of excess oil. It is only about 98% natural, which to me is a good compromise for good hydration. And again, with my skin being the way it is, I am ready to compromise these 2%.

I also bought Lush's Grease Lightning cleanser to use at work, mid-day. It is a great spot cleanser that you dab on and don't have to rinse, so it is perfect for work, and it is antiseptic so it helps to get rid of pimples.

My last purchase was Burt's Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Cream, which is 100% natural. And it is incredible. Not too strong smelling, and incredibly hydrating without being too greasy. One problem: it comes in a little glass jar that is easily tampered with (no wrapping around the top to protect the product). So both jars I purchased (one for work, one for home) had been opened and had a little bit of cream taken. Since I am not in the habit of opening jars (I find that incredibly disrespectful to other customers), I did not notice this before buying. However, you can be sure that next time, I'll check the jars before I purchase them.

There we go for now! I am getting very close to using only natural products, and am very proud. Next step will be deodorant, and body cream. Also, I will have to find a substitute for my Moroccan Oil hair treatment, which I love and will miss a lot!

Half-marathon training: Day 72

2010-03-24T19:20:00.000-04:00

Time run : 60 minutes (4:2 intervals)
Distance run : 8.35 kilometers

Nice run along the Ottawa River today. The sky was so blue today. Not one cloud in the sky. Made for a very pleasant run.

My watch quit on me after 10 minutes though, so I was a little inconsistent with my intervals. I kept forgetting to stop running and start walking, so my intervals were more of 4:1 and 5:2 than actual 4:2 intervals.

Half-marathon training: Day 69

2010-03-21T18:19:00.000-04:00

Time run : about 1h15 (4:2 intervals)

Distance run : about 9.5 - 10 kilometres

My iPod died today halfway through my run. So technically, I have no way to be sure how long or how far I ran! I ran outside, from my house to the Chateau Laurier, so I figure I almost did the 10km I had planned.

This week has been awful running-wise, even worse than last week. I have been feeling a little under the weather (tired mostly), and my motivation was down to zero. My run today kind of put me back on track, so I'll be back full force starting tomorrow!!

Half-marathon training: Day 65

2010-03-17T22:02:00.000-04:00

Time run : 45 minutes (4:1 intervals for the first time) on the treadmill

Distance run : 5.91 kilometres

Incline : 1.5%

The quest for natural products, Part I

2010-03-17T13:54:00.001-04:00

Over the past couple of years, I have tried to have a more eco-friendly and healthy lifestyle. I started off by progressively switching all my home cleaning products for more earth-friendly alternatives.

A few weeks ago, I realized that there was no point in "going green" with my house-cleaning habits, and then leave it at that. If I was concerned about the chemicals I was pouring down drains and using on my counters, how come I was not concerned about the chemicals I was putting in my hair, on my face, in my bath water?

I started reading about natural products, and was prompted to make the switch after reading the Glamology blog. So I started researching what products would work best for me and how green they really were. The blogger behind Glamology has a great online store dedicated to 100% natural products, Mint and Berry, and I started there. I tried the Coffee Bean Eye Cream by 100% Pure, which is just simply amazing, as well as their Pinneaple Peel, which is also wonderful. Next step for skin care will be face cleanser. I don't want to switch my whole routine at once, so I am taking it once step at a time.

I did switch my shampoo and conditioner. After doing a little research, I tried the Live Clean Pure Water line and instantly fell in love. My hair is smooth and manageable, much more than with the salon brand I was using before. Live Clean is a great brand, and although it is only 98% natural and organic (they still use preservatives although it is the gentler kind that exists), it is paraben-free, sulfate-free, biodegradable, and all that good stuff, so I feel pretty confident that I made a good choice.

Update : I forgot to mention that I also switched my lip gloss to Softlips Pure Organic lip care. Its is 100% natural, organic, smells incredible, and is awesome on the lips. I bought the Acaï Berry flavor and it is wonderful, but it comes in a lot of other flavors, including Chai Latte :)

Half-marathon training: Day 64

2010-03-16T22:12:00.000-04:00

Time run : 49 minutes (4:2 intervals)

Distance run : 6.54 kilometres

I ran outside today! It was great. Went by much faster and was much more entertaining than staring at myself in the mirror while running on the treadmill. It got dark really fast though, so I won't be able to do this every time (I had Nic to protect me this time). I cannot wait until April when the days will be longer and I'll be able to go outside for every run!

Half-marathon training: Day 61 and 62, weekend edition

2010-03-14T20:56:00.000-04:00

Saturday -

Time run : 48 minutes (4:2 intervals)

Distance run : 6.18 kilometres

Incline : 1%

Sunday -

Time run : 63 minutes (4:2 intervals)

Distance run : 8 kilometres

Incline : 1.5%

This week was really bad, running wise. I only ran twice during the work week out of lazyness mostly, and so I had to make up for it big time during the weekend! Today was the first time that my long run went over an hour. Woohoo!

Some people are born to dance.... I'm not one of them

2010-03-11T14:27:00.000-05:00

Tonight is Nic's and my last dance class. To date, we have learned tango, waltz, and that which we will be finishing up tonight, fox trot.

After 8 weeks of classes that were supposed to enable us to dance at our wedding, I can say with confidence that the experience was a complete and utter failure. We cannot dance worth a damn, and will not be doing anything more complicated than a slow dance at our wedding.

Sure we had fun... at the beginning. When we started out, it was excited, it was new... and it was something different to do on a Thursday night that eat in front of the television.

The first few weeks was tango. The music was beautiful, but somehow, we could never move as smoothly as the dance teachers. Then came the waltz. I thought it would be easier than tango - turns out the waltz is more technical, and, overall, much more difficult. We were taught moves and turns that I already don't remember. By the time the fox trot came around, I had had enough. My failure to learn to dance has caught up with me and I didn't feel like dancing anymore.

I never expected to become a full-blown dancing diva by the time the eight weeks ended. But I expected to get a bit more than I did. It's not the dance teachers' faults. I just have to accept that I will always be useless on the dance floor, just like I was when I was six and my ballet teacher went up to my mom at the end of the class to tell her that I was totally inflexible and danced as well as a toad would.

Oh well.

Half-marathon training: Day 58...

2010-03-10T22:22:00.000-05:00

... 82 days left.

Time run : 42 minutes (4:2 intervals)

Distance run : 5.33 kilometres

Interval : 1.5 %

Half-marathon training: Day 57...

2010-03-09T19:25:00.000-05:00

...83 days left.

Time run : 42 minutes (4:2 intervals)

Distance run : 5.5 kilometers

Incline : 1%

Half-marathon training: Day 55...

2010-03-07T19:44:00.000-05:00

... 85 days left.

Time run : 58:30 minutes (4:2 intervals)

Distance run : 7.5 kilometres

Incline : 1%

Pretty good run, tiring but very satisfying :)

Also, my first book club meeting was today and it was very very fun. They are one great group of ladies and I could not be happier to have joined them! Looking forward to the next one already!!!

Half-marathon training: Day 54...

2010-03-06T22:23:00.000-05:00

...86 days left.

Time run : 42 minutes (4-2 intervals)

Distance run : 5.61 kilometres

I achieved Orange status on Nike + !! That means I've run more than 55 kilometres since I started with Nike +. Woohoo!

Half-marathon training: Day 53...

2010-03-05T18:47:00.000-05:00

... 87 days left.

Time run : 42 minutes (4:2 intervals)

Distance run : 5.52 kilometres

Incline : 1%

Pfouuuuu.... tough run today. I guess missing two days of workout really has an impact. Will be running both days this weekend to make up for it!

Church ladies with typewriters

2010-03-05T09:54:00.000-05:00

A lady I work with sent me these and they are so hilarious, I thought I'd share =)

These sentences (with all the BLOOPERS) actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services:

The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'
Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't care much about you.
Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow..
At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice.
Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered..
The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.
Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.
The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. Is done.
The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.
The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new campaign slogan last Sunday: 'I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours.

Half-marathon training: Day 50...

2010-03-02T20:02:00.000-05:00

... 90 days left.

Time run : 42 minutes (4:2 intervals)

Distance run : 5.65 kilometres

Incline : 1%

Half-marathon training: Day 49...

2010-03-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

... 91 days left.

Time run : 42 minutes (4:2 intervals!!!)

Distance run : 5.48 kilometres (yes, I have switched to kilometres, I live in Canada, it makes more sense...)

I amped things up a bit today by switching to 4 minutes of running and 2 minutes of walking - I'll stick to that for a couple of weeks and then move on to 4:1, which is the final objective right now. And then maybe 5:1 or 6:1? We'll see how it goes, especially since I have a feeling that when I'll start running outside, it might get a bit tougher.

A look back on Olympic madness

2010-03-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

So, the Olympics are over, and I'll have to admit that I greatly enjoyed myself the past 17 days. Before this, I had never been an Olympic enthusiast... it actually kind of bored me. But I have to say that being in the host country has greatly enhanced the experience for me. I guess all the hype and excitement portrayed every day in the media and felt by the people around me got to me and I ended up being as the biggest fan of Olympic sports.

Throughout the 17 days of this adventure, I was kind of stuck in the middle, as I cheered for my homeland of France, as well as for my adopted home of Canada. I'll admit I cheered louder for Canada. But then could I help it? I was, after all, surrounded and outnumbered!

These Olympic games were for me an opportunity to discover what the games are really about. Sports, yes. But also collaboration and inter-country relations. They were also an opportunity to discover a new facet of this land that I have come to love: Canada. Never had I seen such open display of Canadian pride and love for their country. The sheer amount of Canadian flags on display was just mind-boggling. I loved it. I also rediscovered how wonderful the Canadian people are: caring, proud, welcoming... I mean, I already knew, but seeing such flagrant displays of their wonderfulness was just pure awesomeness for me.

The most surprising thing that happened to me over the course of these games was a new found respect for the sport of curling. I swear to God, after watching a couple of games, it became totally addictive. When watching the women's and men's finals, I was more excited about the sport than I was watching the hockey final. That is definitely a sport I will keep watching and will follow during the next Olympics.

Overall, I am very proud of the results of the Canadian athletes. They did end up owning the podium after all, with their 14 gold medals ( a record for any country in the Winter olympics!). I am happy I opened my mind to become a part of the Olympic adventure in Vancouver 2010. And I am happy to have discovered, as I watched, some amazing athletes with some amazing stories.

I'll end this post with my favorite Olympic moment. As Alexandre Bilodeau won the first gold medal ever on Canadian soil, he was cheered on by his older brother, Frederic, who has cerebral palsy. The highlights of these games, for me, was watching the cheer happiness and pride that Frederic showed at his brother's success, and watching them hug it out after the gold medal run. That was a beautiful moment, and I cried like a baby.

Good job Canada on throwing such amazing winter games!

Half-marathon training: Day 46...

2010-02-26T20:14:00.000-05:00

... 94 days left.

Time run : 48 minutes (3:2 intervals)

Distance run : 6.68 km (4.15 miles)

I decided to do my long run today, which is usually on the weekend, because tomorrow we leave for the cottage, and sunday night is Olympics closing ceremony, so I doubt I'll be running this weekend.

I felt really good during my run today. I can definitely tell I'm improving a lot, and so I think I'll be starting the 4:2 intervals on Monday or Tuesday. And I'm thinking, seeing at how well this is going, I may be able to run the half-marathon in May faster than 4:1 probably.

Half-marathon training: Day 44...

2010-02-24T21:59:00.000-05:00

... 96 days left.

Time run : 40 minutes (3:2 intervals)

Distance run : 3.28 miles

Incline : 1%

Half-marathon training: Day 43...

2010-02-23T20:09:00.000-05:00

... 97 days left.

Time run : 40 minutes (3:2 intervals)

Distance run : 3.27 miles

I'm pretty surprised at how well I am doing so far on this. Not that I think I'm a total loser or anything. It's just that before I started this, I hadn't really run since high school. And even then, it was when I was on the track team and did hurdles, never long distances. Heck, I'd never run more than maybe 1.5 miles in my life. So yeah, pretty surprised... So far so good!!

Half-marathon training: Day 42...

2010-02-22T21:52:00.000-05:00

... 98 days left.

Time run : 40 minutes (3:2 minutes)

Distance run : 3.27 miles

Incline : 1%

Half-marathon training: Day 41...

2010-02-21T12:10:00.000-05:00

... 99 days left.

Weekend long run on Sunday:

Time run : 36:45 minutes (3:2 intervals)

Distance run : 3 miles

Incline : 1%

Half-marathon training: Day 39...

2010-02-19T22:09:00.000-05:00

... 101 days left.

Time run : 35 minutes (3:2 intervals)

Distance run : 2.87 miles

OOOooops... forgot incline today! =)

I am really liking the Nike+ device on my iPod. I can follow my progress and I can set all sorts of objectives for speed, distance, time, and even calories burned. It's really cool! And I am surprised at how precise the measurements are for speed and distance...

Half-marathon training: Day 37...

2010-02-17T17:03:00.000-05:00

... 103 days left.

Time run/walked : 30 minutes

Distance run : 2.75 miles

It was a weird workout because I was calibrating my Nike+ device thingy. So I ran .5 miles to do a first calibration, then I walked .25 miles to calibrate my walking stride, and then another .5 miles running (cause I'm pretty sure I messed up the first calibration). Then 15 minutes in 3:2 intervals to test my calibration. And it worked perfectly!!

From now on, I'll be using Nike+ every run to track my progress. I also found out that Nike+ has a coach option, that gives you a personnalized work-out for half-marathons and marathons. I'll probably be using that to run next year. I'm hoping, if all goes well this year with walking/running the half-marathon, to run the whole thing next year.

Baby niece chronicles, Part 2 (photos included)

2010-02-17T16:59:00.000-05:00

Morgane, my niece and god-daughter, was born this morning at 8:04 a.m. (France time). She weighs 3.440kg. She is the most beautiful little girl in the world.

My sister is doing well after the caesarian. She will be home on Tuesday.

I'm so happy!!!

And here to prove I'm not lying about how beautiful she is, here are some photos:

Baby niece chronicles, Part 1

2010-02-16T22:03:00.000-05:00

So my sister is in the hospital right now. Tomorrow morning at 7:30 am (1:30 am our time), we will be welcoming my new little niece, who is set to be born by caesarian.

I am so excited!!!! I am happy to be an aunt, although the prospect of my baby sister having a baby herself is frightening. And it's making me feel old. =)

More news tomorrow morning... I hope evrything goes alright, and I cannot wait to meet my baby niece!

Half-marathon training: Day 36...

2010-02-16T22:02:00.000-05:00

... 104 days left.

Time run : 35 minutes (3:2 intervals)

Distance run : 2.73 miles

Incline : 1%

Half-marathon training: Day 35...

2010-02-15T17:04:00.000-05:00

... 105 days left.

Time run : 30 minutes (in 3:2 intervals)

Distance run : 2.34 miles

Incline : 1%

I decided today to move things up a little and move on to the next step, which is 3:2 intervals (running 3 minutes and walking 2 minutes).

On a side note, I will be an aunt in 2 days!!! Woohoo!

Yay Olympic Gold!

2010-02-15T10:01:00.000-05:00

So I was pretty happy to see that both my countries were successful this weekend. Two Olympic gold medals for 2 biathlon skiers from France, a bronze for a woman biathlon skier from France, and a gold medal for a Canadian mogul skier, a silver for women's mogul, and a bronze for the women's 3000m long track for Canada. Very proud!

I am just slightly disapointed that the French mogul skier did not end up 2nd on the podium. He was robbed, in my opinion. Would have enjoyed seeing Dale Begg-Smith bumped off to 3rd place too, that guy is so cocky.

I am excited to see the rest!!! It's funny because I have never been much of an Olympic enthousiast, but you really can't help but get caught up in the excitement!

Half-marathon training: Day 34...

2010-02-15T09:57:00.000-05:00

... 106 days left.

This was Sunday, I didn't have time to enter my stats in because we were having dinner at my inlaws' house. Raclette. Huuuummmmm.

OK, so...

Time run: 39 minutes (in 2:1 intervals)

Distance run: 3.0 miles

Incline : 1%

I cannot wait to move up to 3:1 and 4:1 intervals! This feels kind of too easy now, and I am almost ready to get to something a bit more challenging.

Will be running again later today. Day off! Woohoo!

Half-marathon training: Day 32...

2010-02-12T18:54:00.000-05:00

... 108 days left.

Time run : 30 minutes (in 2:1 intervals)

Distance run : 2.40 miles

That's all folks!

Oh yes: happy first day of Olympics!

And all my thoughts are with Nodar Kumaritashvili who died today on a trial run for the luge event. Very sad and tragic way to start of the games.

Puttin' on our dancin' shoes

2010-02-12T10:42:00.000-05:00

So yesterday was our 5th ballroom dancing lesson. For anyone who doesn't know, Nic and I are taking ballroom lessons to prepare for our first dance at the wedding in four months.

After having taken a few lessons, I can safely say that that is not going to happen. Oh sure, we know the steps. We're smart enough. We've got the routine down. One minor problem : we are about as graceful as Donald Duck would be dancing with Goofy ( I have not decided if I would be Donald or Goofy in this equation).

So I'm thinking our first dance at the wedding will consist of slow dancing exclusively. But hey, we still have 3 lessons left. Who knows, we might discover ourselves to have a (very well hidden) talent for waltz. Yeah right.

Half-marathon training: Day 30...

2010-02-09T21:44:00.000-05:00

... 110 days left.

Time run : 30 minutes (in 2:1 intervals)

Distance run : 2.37 miles

Incline : 1%

Nothing to report today, all went well, no pain. Although I am getting bored of the treadmill and cannot wait for spring so I can run outside!

Oh and I had my end of probation evaluation today with the dean, and apparently I « exceed expectations » :) I am now officially a permanent employee of the University of Ottawa! Yay!

Half-marathon training: Day 29...

2010-02-08T21:08:00.000-05:00

...111 to go.

Time run : 30 minutes (in 2:1 interval)

Distance run : 2.4 miles (According to the treadmill. My Nike+ gizmo says 2.9 miles, but I'm pretty sure it's not right)

Incline : 1%

I don't know what happened today, but I had a pretty intense pain in my hip that ran down my whole leg as I ran. It felt sort of like if you have a pinched nerve. Hurt like a sonovabitch... But I made it anyway, so that made me pretty proud. A year ago, I would have quit after 10 minutes. Yay me!

In other news, we went and chose our decor options for the house today. We met with a designer to choose ceramics, hardwood floor, carpet, and other fun things. So now it's a waiting game. They are supposed to break ground and start digging the foundations in March. I cannot wait!

Cause I'm missing you...

2010-02-08T12:15:00.000-05:00

This weekend, Alice, one of my girlfriends from Montreal, came to town for a visit. We had a lovely weekend, and enjoyed Winterlude, a pretty awesome house party, snowshoeing in the park, and other fun things.

When Nic and I dropped Alice off at the train station, I realized how much I missed her, and how much I missed all my girlfriends. Having studied in Montreal, most of my girlfriends are there, as well as in Toronto and Vancouver. And I miss them. I miss having girlfriends I can call up anytime to go and get a cup of coffee or go shopping with.

Of course, I could just make new friends. What a concept. But I've come to realize, since I left Montreal, that making new friends that you end up being close to is really rough once you start working. Everyone already has their own close-knit group, and have no real time for new friends.

Don't get me wrong, I did make a couple of close friends since I came here. A couple. As in two. I wish for more. Actually, if I'm wishing for stuff, I wish that our lives had not taken us in different paths. I wish for all my really close girlfriends (you know who you are) to be here in Ottawa. I know. That's selfish. Oh well.

Half-marathon training: Day 27...

2010-02-06T11:31:00.000-05:00

...113 to go.

Time run : 27 minutes (in 2:1 intervals)

Distance run : 2.21 miles

Incline : 1 %

Nothing to report today except for the fact that the treadmill quit on me after 9 minutes. So I had to stop, reboot, and continue. I hate this building. Very much.

Oh and I'm looking sexy with my hair color and cut. Chelsea, you rock!

People watching at the gym

2010-02-04T20:27:00.000-05:00

Half-marathon training: Day 25... 115 to go.

Went to the gym today and biked for 30 minutes.

I hate going to the gym now, although between the dudes that pump iron while watching themselves in the mirror, and the chickies that wear push-up bras underneath their padded and low-cut Lululemon shirts in order to find someone to hook up with, people watching at a university gym is highly entertaining.

I swear, you see these girls at the gym, with full make-up on, looking like they belong in a (very low-class) fashion show. And they leave without even having broken a sweat.

See, when I work out, I look like shit. My hair's messed up, my shirt has a sweat stain down the back, my face is red... But hey, isn't that the whole point of going to the gym? To work out and push yourself? That's what I thought, but apparently not.

Half-marathon training: Day 24...

2010-02-03T20:10:00.000-05:00

... of 140. Long way to go.

Time run : 27 minutes (2:1 intervals)

Distance run : 2.27 miles

So I was told that when running on a treadmill to prepare for a long run outside, you should keep an incline on your treadmill to make up for the fact that running outside is not entirely flat. So I started adding 1.5% of incline when I run. And boy does it make a difference. I find that it makes it much harder on my legs, and my shins have started to hurt slightly. Apparently, that is normal in runners, and should go away as I continue training. Knock on wood.

Book-clubbing and other geekiness

2010-02-03T17:00:00.000-05:00

So I recently joined a book-club. March 7th will be the first meeting I go to, and we are reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Unlike most people in North-America, I have never read that, but I expect it's going to be a good read, although I have never been much of a science-fiction afficionado.

Bring on the dork and geek jokes, I'll totally understand. Truth is, I've been meaning to join a book clun for quite some time, but I've always been too shy to. But I have come to realize that making friends when you're an adult (yes mom, I am in fact an adult) is really tough. The people I work with are usually much older than me and have different interests. People my age that I meet at work already have well established groups of friends. So I decided that the only way to work around that and meet some new people was through hobbies and such. And I love to read. So what better thing for me than a book club?

Shameful self-promotion

2010-02-03T10:52:00.001-05:00

While I'm at it, if you want to sponsor me for my half-marathon, follow this link and click on « Sponsor Me ». All donations go to the Ottawa Hospital.

Thanks!

21 kilometers? Really?

2010-02-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

So, as people who follow me on Facebook or Twitter will know by now, I am training for the half-marathon in Ottawa at the end of May. That's right. Me. Training to RUN. 21 kilometers at that. Who would have thunk?

To be completely truthful, I won't be running the whole thing. I'll be doing 4 minutes of running followed by 1 minute of walking. The objective is to finish in 2:30 to 3 hours.

Thankfully I am not doing this alone. My friend Christine in Toronto is going to be doing it with me. And she put together the (grueling) training schedule I have been following for 3-1/2 weeks now: running 4 times a week, cross-training (swimming, biking, etc.) twice a week.

To my surprise, I've been handling it very well so far. Obviously this is a very progressive training regimen. For 20 weeks, we'll be progressively increasing difficulty. We started by running 16 minutes in 1:1 intervals (1 minute of running, 1 minute of walking). Sunday, I ran 3 miles in 2:1 intervals, in 38:15 minutes (which is actually more than I have ever run in my WHOLE life). So I'm pretty proud.

I am really trying to put everything on my side to succeed, because I am DETERMINED to do this. So, I've bought a new sports bra, a new headband, a new armband for my iPod so I can listen to my tunes while I run, and, most exciting of all, the Nike + iPod sensor thingamagic, to help me pace myself andfollow my workouts (especially when I'll be running outside, and not on the treadmill like I do now). I haven.t had a chance to try it yet, because I need a thingy to attach the sensor to my shoe (since I don't have Nike + shoes) but that should be coming in the mail in a few days.Woot woot!

I'll be using this blog as a way for me to capture my progress during my training. Hopefully I don't die before I have a chance to run the damn thing. :)

The start of The Ally Project

2010-02-03T09:45:00.000-05:00

I realize that people who know me well, mainly my family and my very good friends, will say, when faced with the news that I am starting a blog, « What? Another blog? You've had half a dozen already, and none of them have survived! » And they would be quite right.

But 2010 is going to be such a big year for me, and I have decided to chronicle all of these important things that will be happening to me: training for and running a half-marathon, getting married, buying a house, become an aunt for the first time...

So here I go!

And yes, the title of this blog is inspired from The Julie/Julia Project. However, since my name is neither Julie or Julia, it works for me.