... sending postcards

more from dc

2013-05-23T18:01:00.000-04:00

Once we had visited several of the touristy spots in DC, we headed to The Source. Alex recommends the roast duck. I say skip the tuna tartare (usually one of my favourite appetizers, but it was awful here) and save room for dessert. After walking around and admiring the architecture, we stopped into Busboys and Poets for a chai latte before heading back to our hotel. - Mina

the tidal basin

2013-05-01T17:35:00.002-04:00

Alex and I went to the tidal basin during the Cherry Blossom Festival in hopes of seeing the trees in bloom. Even though we were there for the typical peak season, the blossoms were just beginning to open. I can't complain though; it was a nice walk in the sunshine and I had great company. - Mina

blossom kite festival

2013-04-25T21:15:00.001-04:00

Formerly known as 'The Smithsonian Kite Festival, The Blossom Kite Festival is held annually on the National Mall. We didn't know about it in advance so it was a pleasant surprise to stumble onto the festivities en route to the Lincoln Memorial. I'll take any excuse to listen to songs from Mary Poppins (they had this on repeat). - Mina

ben's chili bowl

2013-04-22T14:15:00.000-04:00

Ben's Chili Bowl is really milking Obama's visit to their establishment (I totally would too). They have this terribly unflattering photo of him inhaling a chili dog on their t-shirts, which I was tempted to buy just because it was so ridiculous. We ordered Bill Cosby's favourite: a half-smoke and some chili. If I can make a recommendation, I'd say just skip the chili and order an entire half smoke for yourself, so that you don't have to share, because it was soooo good (and I'm not even crazy about hot dogs). After the meal, Alex got a photo with Barry and Michelle outside. I doubt the FLOTUS would have approved of our caloric intake that day :(

washington, dc

2013-04-18T09:35:00.000-04:00

It was gorgeous and sunny on the day that we visited the Lincoln Memorial and the National War Memorial. Unfortunately, the Washington Monument was under construction. I'm underwhelmed by these very tourist-y photos. While the entire area is grand, I think I had built it up to be larger in my head because of all the significant events that happened there (and that sweet scene in Forrest Gump). Nonetheless, it was awesome to finally see it in person. - Mina

wtf, montreal?

2013-04-14T09:30:00.002-04:00

There was a snowstorm in Montreal on Friday. Apparently this city hasn't gotten the memo that it's April. On the plus side, we had one last snow day together. Alex left early Saturday morning. I'm super excited for him but already miss my best pal. I'm hoping that I can make time to take a few trips to SF before moving there, indefinitely, in December. - Mina

*Thanks so much for the kind comments about our move!

we're moving to california!

2013-04-02T09:31:00.000-04:00

Back in December, Alex was flown to California for interviews (and sightseeing) and was offered a job in San Francisco! We're so excited and I'm extremely proud of him and am constantly in awe of the enthusiasm he has for his work.

We've been sitting on this info. for so long and are thrilled to finally share it. Because we learned about this at the beginning of the season, I completely skipped my predictably dour winter mood and have just enjoyed (my possibly last!) winter. It's also why I kinda abandoned most social media... gotta get as many hugs as I can before Alex leaves (in two weeks). We're going to be apart for awhile, which is going to be rough. I have some obligations in Montreal and need to start thinking about selling our home before scheduling the movers. My plans are still up in the air but I may be going back and forth until 2014.

We don't know many people in SF; send me an email if you live in the area! - Mina

photos (taken and edited on the phone) from the weekend Alex spent in SF/South Bay, between interviews, this past December.

celebrations

2013-03-26T07:14:00.000-04:00

We celebrated a few achievements with a gluttonous meal at Au Pied De Cochon - a favourite restaurant of ours that can only be enjoyed sparingly as every dish there is an indulgence.

I've been planning a weekend getaway to Washington, DC and crossing my fingers that the cherry blossoms will be in bloom. I may have already pinned more than we can handle for two days, but let me know if there's anything we absolutely can't miss.

It always feels strange when I neglect this space but I'm excited to share some news soon.* Thanks for sticking around, friends. - Mina

*Not a baby! I guess I'm just in that phase of life where I need to attach that addendum any time I declare good news.

ecomuseum

2013-02-22T12:02:00.000-05:00

The western tip of Montreal Island is where you'll find the Ecomuseum - a zoo filled with injured wildlife, native to the Saint Laurence Valley region, that could not survive in the wild . We visited on a sunny morning, and watched animals play, feed*, and nap. *A few of the photos are a little graphic, so if you're put off by that stuff, avert your eyes.

parc jean-drapeau

2013-02-12T11:50:00.000-05:00

ice hotel

2013-02-07T15:46:00.000-05:00

Alex took me to the Ice Hotel in Montreal's Snow Village, for my birthday, a few weeks ago. We had dinner in the Pommery Ice Restaurant. It was freeeeezing (sitting on chairs made of ice probably didn't help), but a good time anyway! - Mina

snow days

2013-01-30T12:32:00.000-05:00

50 days 'til spring...

val-des-lacs

2013-01-24T10:10:00.000-05:00

One morning, we drove from Montreal to Val-des-Lacs on a wintery Quebec day. We attempted to ice fish, learned some survival skills (I've determined that I'd last 5 minutes, tops, in the wild), and went snow shoeing through a Narnia-like forest. - Mina

lac des castors

2013-01-14T07:47:00.001-05:00

In an attempt to make friends with winter this year, we've been trying to get out for as many walks as possible. I doubt the novelty of freshly fallen snow will ever wear off on me. This certainly isn't a love letter to the season, but winters are much more tolerable in Montreal than they ever were in Winnipeg. If only I still didn't have to wear a thousand layers to leave the house...

These are a few more images (and an iPhone video of us being embarrassingly silly) from this day in late December. - Mina

P.S. No Alexs were harmed in the making of the video; he fell over purposely to make me laugh.

+ our previous videos and photos from Lac Des Castors a.k.a Beaver Lake

new year's eve grand ball at old port

2013-01-09T15:00:00.000-05:00

You've likely seen too many photos of fireworks by now, but here are ours from the evening anyway. We rang in the New Year at Old Port with what they call the Grand Ball. I don't typically associate ski pants and tire d'érable with "grand balls", but I guess that's how they do it in Montreal. There was also ice skating, hot chocolate, and lots and lots of snow. - Mina

two thousand and twelve

2012-12-31T14:15:00.000-05:00

My favourite (documented) moments of 2012.

Happy 2013!

Also: 2011, 2010, & 2009

starry sky in vermont

2012-12-31T10:31:00.000-05:00

On the way home from Boston, we stopped in Burlington for dinner and were lucky to witness a beautiful night sky filled with stars. - Mina

charles river esplanade

2012-12-30T15:30:00.000-05:00

After walking around Beacon Hill and Acorn Street, we went into The Paramount for lunch because it was nearby. The weather was surprisingly amazing in October, so we walked to the Charles River Esplanade. I thought that a dock, right in the middle of the city, was an unusual and brilliant way to be able to enjoy the water - cheers to the person who decided to make that happen. It's a beautiful place to relax and watch the boats.

Before we left the city, we made sure to stop at Flour where I finally got my Boston Cream Pie and Alex got a sticky bun... a delicious end to our time in Boston. - Mina

A big thanks to Malia who recommended almost all of the places we visited on this trip. You''re the best!

boston public library

2012-12-28T12:00:00.000-05:00

beacon hill & acorn street

2012-12-27T21:14:00.001-05:00

Having never visited Boston, I had certain preconceived notions of how it would look: narrow streets, row houses, and brick sidewalks. Nowhere is this vision more complete than in the desirable Beacon Hill neighborhood where former residents include Sylvia Plath and Robert Frost. We walked through the area one afternoon, visiting the Massachusetts State House and the oft-photographed Acorn Street. - Alex

joyeux noël!

2012-12-25T00:17:00.000-05:00

Holiday greetings from our home in Montreal to you, where ever you are! We hope you're able to spend this season with the people you love most.

our old christmas "cards": here

top of the hub

2012-12-24T14:55:00.000-05:00

Usually when there's some sort of gimmick involved with a restaurant, they get away with skimping on the quality of the food. Luckily for us, Top of the Hub was an exception and our dinner there was excellent. It's definitely worth the visit for the view (my photos don't do it justice). I also tried clam chowder for the first time and was glad to have had the experience in New England. I loved it; although Alex warned me that not all clam chowders are created equal. - Mina

boston - day three

2012-12-23T10:16:00.003-05:00

After a seafood lunch at Atlantic Fish Co., which was a short walk away from our hotel room in Copley Plaza, we set off to explore historic downtown Boston and the Long Wharf. It was a perfect day of sightseeing. - Mina

mike's pastry

2012-12-21T14:00:00.000-05:00

Everyone said we had to go to Mike's to get a cannoli. If I can be perfectly honest, I wasn't a fan at all. This could be because I went in thinking that a cannoli was basically an eclair, which is it not. The guy beside me was inhaling a Boston cream pie and I kind of regret not ordering one because, well, when in Rome... Listening to people who were obviously repeat customers order in their Boston accents made my day though, so it wasn't a total waste. - Mina

cambridge / boston - day two

2012-12-20T12:02:00.000-05:00