She said yes!

I am interrupting my reports on my online dating escapades to announce wonderfully exciting news- after 4 years of enduring our family, E decided to fully emmerse himself in all of our craziness by asking our dear little S to be his wife!!!

As I walked into my parents' "pied-a-terre" in jersey, mom immediately pointed out where "E proposed to us!" She described how a nervous looking E sat my parents down to ask if he could ask S to marry him... Of course they said "yes" and then, all that was left was a week long wait until they left for Italy (their annual trip to visit E's family) a long flight, and a few days of visiting before their weekend spent alone during which he finally, was able to pop THE question!

In true "K" form, I was in a port-o-potty at Osheaga when I received the 1st call with the wonderful news. Luckily, I didn't answer and opted to call back when I exited the washroom... So I called back and instead of words, S held up her left hand and there was her gorgeous engagement ring. I started to cry (happy tears, obviously.) Got to love montrealers because as I cried for my sister's wonderful news, fellow Osheaga-goers stopped in their tracks to make sure I was ok. When I told them they were tears of joy because of my little sister's engagement to a wonderful man, they took it upon themselves to get on FaceTime as well, in order to congratulate them. It was just amazing.

So here I am. I cannot wait for them to get back so we can celebrate (& get details- when is this happening? What color should I wear? Where?) urg, this also means yet another Wedding Diet!!!!! Yay!



Regardless of these details, the one thing I know is that E has made my littlest sister friend as happy as she ever could be, and that is worth more than anything in the world to me. (And if I am going to be selfish, I now officially have the two BEST brothers-in-law that have ever walked this earth!!! Lucky girl I am!)

So here's to you guys- S&E, I love you both so much!

Here's to a life of love, laughs and a whole lot more.

Much love

Xoxoxox

K

Turns out... I'm a chicken.

I already have to make an amendment to the last post I wrote: I will do 1 thing that scares me a week, not per day! (That plan was a real quick way to let myself down!)

I have signed myself up and even chatted with a few people so now, the obvious next step is to actually agreed to go out with one of these people. So, scary adventure of the week- accepting an invitation. CHECK! Right now I feel proud of myself for accepting my own challenge but guaranteed, I'm going to want to cancel it 6 times before I actually get there. I won't though, that much I have promised myself....and my sisters /friends. (No getting out of it now.) even my grandmother has come to understand and agree with my taking on this challenge!

It will definitely happen this week so I will keep you posted on how that goes. I am hoping that the incident that happened today (ya, the one where I slipped in my wet flip flops, dropped my phone and had my umbrella turn inside out... Simultaneously) is out of my system and that the awkward, sometimes clumsy K stays home for this experience.

Well, there's always a bright side, right? If I do manage to embarrass myself horribly, I may not get another date but at least you'll get a good laugh!

Xoxox
K

Starting over.

OK, so admittedly, my sisters and I haven't done a great job at keeping this alive. I suppose life has gotten in the way a bit. A baby and new house for T, a new condo and busy working life for S. As for myself, the eldest of the three, I wish I had more exciting news to share. Instead, I have an encyclopedia-long list of "is this my life?" moments and tales to tell. So instead of keeping them to myself (as any normal, self respecting person would do,) I have decided to share...

Where do I start? The engagement I called off? The house I had to sell? The job I love but am not guaranteed of getting again? Or my broken heart?

I am a 32 year old woman. I have had a fair number of long term relationships and wonderful men in my life. And most recently, heartbreak. I suppose it's normal to feel as though your world has been turned upside down when someone you care about so much turns and walks out of your life. I won't be that girl who goes and gets some crazy "I am strong!" tattoo (an anchor, a flying bird etc,) cut off all my hair or pack up and move to a new city. Nope. Instead, I have succumb to the *friendly* bullying of my friends and family (yes, my mother is on board) and have signed up for online dating (WHAT!?!?!) Yup, I have made a deal with myself: since what I've done my whole life hasn't seemed to have worked for me, I will now do at least ONE thing a day that scares me- two days ago, that was signing up for Plenty of Fish and Match.com (depending who I speak to, some say the "pay" sites are better, others believe in full access.)

 For those of you who have never ventured into the land of online dating, wow (!) it's a crazy place!
In order to manage my existence out there, my dear friend LP has laid out guidelines for my success:

1) Be "light"
This came about after the first few messages I received and felt AWFUL because most of the guys who had written were... not my type. OK, they were not attractive to me. This left me feeling bad and asking myself if I am cut out for this game. LP explained that I have to be ok with saying "no" to people and although I don't have to be mean (obviously) I also don't have to spend so much time considering how they'll feel if I don't answer. *Light*

2) It's ok if a guy asks to hold my hand.
I don't mean this literally but rather that it's ok to take chances and perhaps allow for things I am not use to. This rule comes about after a friend almost refused a 2nd date with a guy because he was "too nice." Long story short, she agreed and I am fairly certain they will end up married and having their "happily ever after."

3) Date, date, date.
I have never been on a date. This is no lie. Of course I have been taken out but always by my existing boyfriend. How, you ask did I get said boyfriend if I have never been on a date? Simple. I have ALWAYS dated friends. There is not a single guy I have dated who wasn't my friend for at least the period of a year before we began dating- it always kind of, just happened. So although I am wary of my ability to meet and "fall" for someone in the dating scene (online dating nonetheless!) I have made a deal that I WILL DATE.

So there you have it. This is where my 32 years of existence has brought me. It's OK though. Don't go feeling sad for me! Instead, you can check in every once in a while and perhaps follow me on my adventures online dating (I'm like the new Alice in Wonderland!)

Here we go!!!

And The Winner Is...

Good Saturday Morning to all our readers! Even though it is grey and dull here in Montreal, the temperatures are slowly creeping up and that in itself is something to celebrate. As we mentioned in our past two posts (which can be found here and here) our extremely talented friend Stephanie Paul has finally launched her brand new website. It is an absolutely gorgeous website, with clean lines, high-definition photos of her work and easy-to-navigate buttons. You can even shop directly on her site. She has given us not only the honor of announcing her website, but she also gave us a one-of-a-kind handmade piece of her jewelry to give away to one of our lucky readers. Well, today is the day and we will announce the winner below. First thing's first though... Life of Three is proud to present to you StephaniePaulJewelry.com ! 

I know that Stephanie Paul Jewelry's new website is going to be a big hit. She is so talented and her gorgeous pieces are all high quality and handmade. Now, without further delay we will announce our winner that was chosen using an online random name selector. Congratulations Tracy Cousins! We will be in touch with you via email to get you your prize. Wishing you all a great weekend!

With Love,

S

Good News- Stephanie Paul Giveaway Extended

Good morning everyone! I hope that, despite this grey and dreary day, everyone is having a good morning so far. It would be nice if the temperatures could get milder and the sun could come out of hiding. It's not like tomorrow is the first day of spring or anything...

I have some good news this morning! We will be extending the FREE JEWELRY GIVEAWAY for one more week. All you have to do is comment below and share the link on your facebook page by clicking the facebook link below. Once you have done that, you will be entered to win a free piece of Stephanie Paul Jewelry valued at over $100! Here are a few more of her pieces. 

Variety of Custom Jewelry made to order

Silver Bracelet and Earrings

As you can see, and as I've mentioned, Stephanie's designs are extremely beautiful, top-quality and are all designed and hand-made by her here in Montreal. They can be chosen from her collection or custom pieces can also be ordered. So don't miss your chance to WIN one of her pieces. Comment below and you will automatically be entered. Good luck!

With Love,

S

Stoned

I have a secret. It's not a deep dark regret, or anything illegal... but it is a secret. It is one that I find myself thinking more and more about as I get older and am faced with difficulties in life. I secretly wish that I were more artistic. I wish I had some sort of outlet for my feelings: I wish I could paint, draw, dance, sing, sculpt, craft... anything... but, unfortunately, it's just not in me. I couldn't draw a circle to save my life, I suck at dancing (picture white-man's overbite combined with Elaine Benese), and I have tried to paint and just end up frustrated and paint-covered. Now we all know that jealousy and envy are emotions that don't look good on anyone but sometimes, I connect with creative people and wish I had what they had.

One of these people is a good friend of ours named Stephanie. She is so incredible talented. Until I saw her work, I wasn't really aware that someone could be so creative in more than one type of art. But she is. I've seen her paintings and they are amazing. She has made incredibly beautiful vases. But something she is most passionate about is her jewelry making. My sisters and I have some of her pieces, one of which I wear every day and never take off, and people cannot believe that they are hand-made by someone we know. I am going to share some of them for you in this post.

Black Spinel Drop Earrings 

Turquoise and Ruby Earrings 

Pink Spinel and Emerald Chain with Diamond Charm

Faceted Onyx Lariate that can be worn in a variety of ways. I have one, and when you wear it with an LBD... Wow. 

Ruby Cluster Necklace

Black Spinel Rosary

Stephanie's Jewelry is not only beautiful, but it is all designed and handmade in her studio in Montreal. More often than not, ' designer' jewelry you find in boutiques is actually mass-produced gold/silver-plated low-end products. Stephanie uses high quality faceted stones and the gold jewelry is gold-filled (meaning the interior is silver) instead of gold-plated which is known to rub off. Her designs are unique, well-made and can be custom designed. 

I will be doing a follow up post with more of her designs next week because Stephanie has generously given a piece of her hand-made jewelry valued at over $100 to be used in our "Giveaway". Her website and online store will also be up next week so orders can be placed directly online. To be eligible for the FREE GIVEAWAY , share this link on facebook and then comment below by next Thursday, March 21. We will announce the random winner next Friday. So goodluck! 

**Don't forget to comment in the 'comments' section below once you've shared the post to qualify for the giveaway!

With Love,

S

Spring Fashion Forward

Good Sunday Evening! After an amazing spa weekend up north with E, I am feeling relaxed and ready to take on the week. The sun is finally returning and, with that, the temperatures are rising (somewhat) and the snow is starting to melt (somewhat). But, that's not how I know Spring is coming.... Instead I know Spring is coming because my friend/old co-worker has sent me the customary 'Spring Text' saying: "You haven't done a fashion post in a long time. How am I supposed to know what to wear for Spring/Summer?". Well, here it is... My Spring Fashion Post. I have chosen to share mostly styles from Zara because it is moderately priced and can be worn by both younger and... more mature women. A few of the other links are from a site that a friend of mine works for called Gilt that I am absolutely obessed with. It has everything from clothes for women, men and children as well as stuff for the home, beauty tools and makeup... and a lot more. I spend much more time on this site than I would like to admit. 

I have decided to start with dresses since I absolutely adore them. I think there is nothing better than having a good dress collection because, when you're not in the mood to choose an 'outfit', just throw on a dress and head out the door. Easy Peasy. This Backless Lacy Dress can be worn to work/cocktail hour with a cute blazer and then, when the jacket comes off... sexy LBD 

I want this Dress with Chain Shoulders... like, I want it and will probably drag T out to Zara this week on a wild mission to track it down. Since I have a bit of a square body type, this shape dress seems to work well on me. Chances are, if you see me this summer... I will probably be wearing this dress... more than once.

This Zara Floral Print Dress is adorable. I don't think I could quite pull it off (though I hate that saying), I think it is fun, playful and quite versatile. I also happen to think it would look quite lovely with a jean jacket.  

Though I am doing a Spring fashion post, I am really really loving these J Brand Olivia Embroidered Skinny Jean. I love everything about them from the color, to fit and the added texture above and below the knee. I often wear denim in the Spring with a bright top like this Alex + Alex V-Neck Blouse in Cherry.

Now, we (meaning I) may not all have the body for it... but if you're feeling particularly Kim-Kardashiany (please forgive me for that one) then this Zara Asymmetric Crop Top with matching White Pencil Skirt is for you. 

Body thing also applies to this Striped Guipure Lace Top that my Grandma H wanted me to buy for my birthday last weekend. She has great taste.. but I don't know if it would flatter me. 

As for shoes... I apologize, but you're on your own. Mainly because, if it were up to me, everyone would walk around in these all summer, but hey! Nautical's in!

With Love,

S

Scar Tissue

Good Saturday Evening! Is it just me, or does the first week home from vacation always seem never-ending? The vacation seems to zip by and then, you're home... watching the clock waiting for the weekend. I really shouldn't be complaining though because I know how lucky I am to have been able to enjoy an amazing family vacation on the sunny island of St-Martin.

Though it wasn't quite as wild as our girls trips that you can read about here and here, it was relaxing... just what the doctor ordered. What seems to happen when you get back from any vacation, however, is that your mind wanders to the 'what ifs'. What if I chose to pack up and leave this cold, snowy, grey climate and live something tropical? What if I make a life-altering decision to relocate? What if I were able to start a new life somewhere? Where would I go? What would I do there? Would I be happy? 

I find myself asking these questions any time I leave my hometown, but this time... the feeling that I could be happy living somewhere else is one that I just can't seem to shake. The inevitable will happen though: the sun will return and the weather will get warmer, the wind will die down, the grass will peek through the melting snow and, like the snow, our dreams of living elsewhere will melt away too. This is what I have decided I will call "Winter Scar Tissue". Now... I know that many cold-weather dwellers enjoy the cold and snow. I know that there are people who love to ski, to skate, to snowshoe and to snuggle up by the fire with a nice glass of red wine at the end of the day. I like the wine... but could do without the rest of it. 

I know I know... the grass is always greener. But... at least they have grass all year round! I guess it really comes down to my family. I have traveled quite a bit, even living in Australia for a few months, but I know I am too close to my family to leave them. I know that even if I had an opportunity to leave this cold cold (cold) place, I probably would have a very difficult time actually doing it. It's one thing to think it... another to do it. So, I guess for now I am going to have to settle for family vacations in the caribbean and summers in Italy. But hey... a girl can dream!

Until next time

With Love,

S

Notte Italiana

Good Evening Everyone!

Well it definitely has been a while... okay... more than a while. So much has changed since our last blog post. Most of it is for the best. I promised, among other things, to post more on our blog in 2014. Since T is busy with baby, and K hardly has any time outside of work... this may be Life Of One for a little while, but I'll do my best to write as much as possible. 

This Holiday Season was definitely a busy one. It was baby E's first Christmas and I think we managed to pack in as much Holiday Fun as we possible could. She got to sit on Santa's lap and didn't cry at all, she witnessed cookie baking, gingerbread-house making, tree decorating, and a whole lot of fa-la-la. Not to mention her first trip on a plane to visit B's side of the family. T & B are lucky because from what I hear, she's a perfect little flyer! In the fall, E & I bought a condo and we are enjoying all of the perks of owning our first home. 

A picture of our almost all white kitchen 

We are also enjoying having Mama H home for many weeks at a time and we know how blessed we are that she is (almost) completely back to her old self. Since I am just getting over a cold, E and I decided to spend most of the weekend at home and tonight is an all-out Italian Night at our house. 

We are currently really enjoying watching old movies... Last night was Sophia Loren in "Marriage Italian Style". Tonight it's "Three Coins in the Fountain"

Italian movies just aren't the same when they are watched while enjoying homemade Italian food now are they?

My specialty is homemade pizza. I follow the Willam Sonoma Focaccia Recipe which is super simple and can be found by clicking here

E is enjoying the Kitchenaid Pasta Attachment that I got him for Christmas. Tonight it's homemade Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli. His recipe is from and old Italian cookbook, but you can find an easy-to-follow recipe here

Wishing you all health and happiness in 2014 (you know what they say... better late than never), and I will be back soon with another post. Until then...

With Love,

S

Saluti Dall'Italia!

Good afternoon everyone... or, as they say in Italy 'Buon Pomeriggio'. As I sit here writting, I can see the waves in the mediterranean sea from my hotel window and can smell the salt water in the air. E and I are having a great time visiting friends and family and enjoying our time in San Remo before we take off for the Adriatic Coast. There is nothing better than spending the days at the beach and the nights sipping wine at a restaurant on the sea. I'll keep this short (the pictures speak for themselves) and I'll say that we are happy, safe and enjoying life. 

Ciao,

S

A Day All About Dads

I will start with the classic, HAPPY FATHER’S DAY! 

(and then quickly digress…)

I am sitting here in my parents’ basement (a story for another day), tears streaming down my face, having started and restarted this post at least a dozen times. The reason it is so difficult to get the words out is because there are no words to describe how incredible our father really is.

It is no secret that our mom has been battling cancer for almost 5 years now- she is an amazingly strong woman, a fearless fighter and inspiration to all of us.

Our dad however, is the man in the shadows. Our dad has fought alongside our mom for every bit of these past 5 years- just about every test, every treatment, every appointment, everything- he has been there. I often joke about how LONG it takes my dad to make decisions; buying a new car is a 4-month process- read all write-ups, check the stats, test drive several models etc. He is often referred to as “Captain Security” because he is just a very careful, thorough, cautious guy (which is probably good because us girls aren’t so much…) So, I cannot imagine what it was like for him, almost a year ago, to pack up his wife, pack up his life, leave his house, his work and the rest of his family in hopes of better options in the U.S.- all in 36-hours.  

In the 5 years that our family has been coping with our mom’s illness, we have not been spared other life events (some happy, some sad) and without fail, dad has remained our rock. In moments when HE should have been the one to completely melt down from stress or emotional exhaustion, he remained the one that my sisters and I could lean on, talk to, cry with. His strength has not waivered even once. He.is.incredible.

Really, I could go on and on forever with tales of how wonderful our father is but instead, I will just share one last story that makes my heart melt every time I think of it. (Ok- a little bit of context & then the story.)

It was 3 years in to my mother’s illness, it was a lousy, cold March evening and mom was in the hospital. Our dad’s routine had been the following for weeks at this point- 530am wake up, at the hospital by 7, in the office for a few hours, noon back at the hospital, back to work, home for a quick bite to eat and then once again back at the hospital until my mom fell asleep. Repeat.

After a while, my sisters and I begged my father to take a night off so he could get a good sleep. We promised to visit with mom until she kicked us out to go to bed. He agreed.

The visit took place but on the way out, there was dad coming down the hall. Curious as to what was going on and knowing that he knew we were there, T asked “what are you doing here?” He responded, “Oh, I just forgot to pick something up when I was last here.” Concerned that he had lied to us (to protect us of course) we stood outside mom’s room to make sure everything was ok. In true mom form, she looked up, saw dad there and said “Oh for goodness sake, what are you doing here? You were supposed to take the night off, the girls just left.”

To which he responded, “I know, I just couldn’t go to sleep without giving you a kiss goodnight.”  

To this day I am not sure if Dad knows we heard that. In fact, I’ll probably get in trouble for writing about it. Regardless, it is one of my favorite moments when I think about my dad. Pure, simple, strong and loving.

Daddy- we don’t know where we would be in all of this without your strength, love and devotion to mom and the rest of our family. From coaching soccer, attending swim meets, softball games to school plays, days and nights on the Island, financial advice to thoughts on life, breakups, makeups, bike rides, homework, Peterborough, a wedding and your baby's baby, morning cartoons and late night chats... you have been there for it ALL. Although we cannot be there with you today, we hope you have a wonderfully amazing father’s day because that is exactly what you are, an amazingly wonderful dad (& now Grandpa!)

Love you more than words.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

xoxox

Nothing Is Ever Really Lost To Us As Long As We Remember It

Well... it's been a long time. Over a month in fact. It's kind of funny how you grow up hearing how fast life flies by and then, seemingly out of nowhere, you become someone who can't stop saying things like "wow... where did the day/week/month go?". I am officially one of those people. 

E always told me that I would notice it even more when there was a baby in the family. A baby that grows and changes and makes new faces every day. He was right.

This past weekend, E and I packed up his new Jeep and headed South for New Jersey. I had bought him Yankee Tickets for his birthday and, at the time when I bought them in March, I felt like the game day was so far away. The time just flew by though... two months gone in a flash. We drove down on Saturday and had planned to stay at my parents place in Jersey and spend some time both there and in the city. Sunday, which also happened to be Mother's Day, turned out to be nothing short of an amazing day. The sun was shinning, and it was just one of those days where everything went our way. 

We started off with a nice walk through Central Park where we finally got to enjoy a warm day with lots of greenery. 

During our walk, we decided that perhaps we should make a rough plan for the day... maybe an activity or two planned out. So, being the kid at heart that I am, I asked if we could go to the Central Park Zoo. Since it was Mother's Day we made sure to check with Mama H, but she loves animals so I knew she would be down for the adventure. 

After the zoo, we headed toward Rockefeller Center and decided to grab a late lunch before heading back to the apartment. As we sat and watched the world go by, I thought a lot about Mother's Day and how much my mother does for me. I know it's cliché to say that I have the best mother in the world and that I couldn't have asked for a better mom... but it's the truth. I don't know any woman who is stronger, kinder, more caring, or more selfless than my mother. Despite the fight my mom is fighting, she is rarely thinking of the impact this has on her... but she is instead thinking about how this is impacting others and is thinking of protecting her children. That is the definition of being a mother.

Even though we couldn't be all together as a family...the day was otherwise perfect. I stopped a few times and tried to soak it all in. I want to remember the smells of the park on that day, the sounds of the people and the children, how the sun was warm and how the grass was still a little wet. I want to capture that feeling of being happy and feeling like everything is going to be ok... because I know it will be. It was so special. Not because we went to a fancy restaurant or bought my mom fancy gifts... but because we spent it together doing something she loves. 

E and I finished our visit there by going to see the Yankees play. It was something on my bucket list and I am so happy we got to do it. I know how much he loves baseball and, even though we didn't stay until the end... we had a great time and I truly felt the passion in that stadium.

Well, that's all for me... for now. I'm hoping you all had a lovely Mother's Day Weekend.

With Love,

S

It's A Girl!

Welcome to the world Emma Judith Allen! It is my pleasure to announce the birth of Emma Judith Allen, born March 24th, 2013. She is the most perfect little bundle of joy, weighing 8 pounds 4 ounces hard to believe since T's baby bump was so small! Mom and baby are doing extremely well and Daddy is very proud. We are all overjoyed and are already smothering Emma with love and kisses. She is the most beautiful little girl and we are so blessed. Since we didn't know the sex of the baby, we had to rush out today to make sure that our niece would be the best dressed little munchkin on the block!

 

 

 

We Love You Emma.

Love S & K

It's A Birthday (But No Baby Yet)

I've wanted to write this post all day, but haven't out of fear that everyone receving it would think that Baby has come. Well he/she has not yet come, and we are all anxiously awaiting said arrival. K, K & I cannot wait to become aunties and I know that T has waited her whole life to become a mama. Well... hang in there T, because Baby will be here any day now. 

The reason for this post is that it happens to be a very special day: K's birthday. Seeing as Mama H and Dad aren't home, we didn't do a blowout celebration, or shower her with gifts (or give her the gift she wanted which was a new niece or nephew)... we did have a small dinner to celebrate her day. 

As anyone who reads this blog already knows, my sisters and I are extremely close... in fact, they are my best friends. We share everything... whether good or bad... but, most importantly, we support one another. Whether they come to me with happy news, or sad news, I know that they know I will be there to share in the good... and cry during the bad. I will listen without judgement, be happy without jealousy, and be protective when I need to be. The same way they would do for me. What it all comes down to, is that there is no one in this world who knows you better than your sisters. No one has been through what we have been through... but us.

For as long as I can remember, K has been there to protect her little sisters, to listen without judgement, and to love us as hard as her strong little heart would allow. And soon (hopefully) there will be a new addition to our family that will find his/her own little spot in her heart as well. She will love the new baby as fiercely as she loves every single member of her family.

So... on this very special night... I want to wish her a very Happy Birthday and tell her that I hope this year is nothing short of spectacular. She deserves no less than that.  She is the best big sister you could ever ask for and we love her. Plain and simple. 

Never stop being you K. 

Much Love,

Your LSF

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine

When I announced that I had decided to spend my Spring Break overseas as a chaperon for 41 fifteen and sixteen year –olds, an overwhelming number of people told me (in short) that I was crazy; “You’ll regret it. You’re going to be exhausted. Europe is beautiful but it’s not THAT worth it.”

We left on February 27^th, our flight was at 8pm (but thanks to a snow storm we sat in the plane for 2 hours & finally took off at 10 pm.) We landed somewhere in the vicinity of 10 am Paris time immediately set off on a tour of Paris (Notre Dame Basilica, the Seine River etc) and arrived back at our hotel around 10 pm. The routine of 5:30am wake ups, all-day tours and late returns continued for the entire 9 days- including our final day which saw zero hours of sleep the previous night, two flights and a 4 hour layover before arriving home- I did the math, 32 hours without sleep!  

The final verdict: I would not have changed even ONE moment for the world! On top of visiting some of the world’s most beautiful cities and seeing some of the most treasured pieces of art/ fascinating ruins I also had the opportunity and pleasure of getting to know a phenomenal group of young adults (I was going to say kids but was corrected by them constantly while away ha ha ha!)

Some of my favorite moments from the trip include the following:

•       One of our boys, a quiet, insecure young man spent his whole trip (and all of his money) searching for the perfect gifts for each of his family members, soccer team scarves to be exact for his younger brother. On our final day in Rome, he was wearing an “Italia” scarf and I said “Great, you've found all of the scarves for your brother.” Instead, he explained to me that this one was not for his brother but rather having seen him spend all of his time and money on everyone else, the “popular girls” on the trip had all pitched in and bought him the scarf so he could have a souvenir from the trip.
•      When asked “What was your favorite part of the trip?” A simple question. A grade 11 girl explained to me the following: “High school has not been easy for me. I don’t have a lot of friends and I got the idea that not a lot of people actually like me. But this whole trip has redefined my memories of high school.”
•      Hour 10 of our trip home, one of our “less popular” girls had hot coffee spilled on her lap. Before I could get out of my seat to try to rectify the problem the one of most popular guy on the trip, a jock, got out of his seat, went back to the washroom, returned wearing basketball shorts. He had the sweatpants he had been wearing in hand and was offering them to the “geeky girl” he had probably never spoken to prior to this trip.

Some other highlights:

The Louvre- Paris, France

San Gimignano, Italy

Colosseum- Rome, Italy

Piazza Del Duomo, Mlian, Italy

Eiffel Tower- Paris, France

Pompeii, Italy

Hall of Mirrors, Versailles

Sistine Chapel- Vatican City
*No, I didn't not disobey and take a photo, this is thanks to Google image*

MEGA HIGHLIGHT: Being one of the FINAL groups to be granted access to the Sistine Chapel before it was closed to the public so they could begin the preparations for the Papal Conclave- AMAZING!

Anyone who knows me knows that I don’t get up every morning to go to work; I get up and get to do what I LOVE (and just happen to get paid for it.) More often than not when there is talk of teens, there are negative connotations or less popular feelings towards them but let me tell you, there are some incredibly intelligent, compassionate, empathetic, interesting young people out there and I feel absolutely blessed to have had the chance to spend my spring break with them... and the surroundings weren't bad either :)

xoxoxox

With love,

K