Scary Stuff

Now that hurricane Sandy has blown through the eastern States and Southern Ontario, those of us who still have hydro can be thankful to have come through the storm unscathed. Many residents in the eastern States were not so lucky, and our thoughts and prayers are with them today as they struggle with power outages, flooding and scattered debris.

In less scary news, with Hallowe'en just around the corner, I want to share this easy yet eerie pumpkin carving project: The Mouse Motel. Thanks to blogger Jen Selk for reminding me about this fun idea which was originally conceived by the creative minds at Martha Stewart.

 
My Mom and I carved our pumpkins on Saturday afternoon, and with a bit of trial and error we each completed our own mouse motel. Afraid to use a knife but without a pumpkin carving kit, we improvised by starting the holes with a corkscrew and then rounding them out with a sturdy spoon. I think they turned out great!

 

  

Project Costs:

2 Small Pumpkins x $1.50 = $3.00

2 Pkgs Mice (Dollarama) x $1.00 = $2.00

Pumpkin Carving Fun = Priceless!

Photos by Pamela Graham for Cherish Toronto.

Been There, Seen That: Paris Edition

 The view from my hotel room.

I'm home...did you miss me? Paris was ahh-mazing!! I did a lot, a lot, a lot of walking through the city, so much that I almost wore a hole through the sole of my ballet flats, but it was worth every step. I saw all of the sights I had on my list of "must see places" and them some. I realized that my french is totally pathetic, but that it's good enough to place an order in a restaurant and conduct simple retail transactions.

Everything was so picturesque in Paris, from the charming apartment buildings to the numerous brasseries and cafes lining the streets of the St. Germain district.  I had an amazing experience, soaking in the atmosphere of the modern Parisian lifestyle, while at the same time surrounded by centuries of history. What an amazing trip, highly recommended!!

 Brasserie Le Saint-Germain

 

La Tour Eiffel, completed 1889

 

Arc de Triomphe, completed 1836

 

Musee du Louvre

 

Notre Dame, completed 1345

 

 Place de la Concorde. The fountains were stunning!

 Pont Alexandre III

 Basilica du Sacre-Coeur, completed 1914

  

 Steps in Montmarte

 Fontaine Saint-Sulpice, completed 1848

 Mercury Riding Pegasus, Antoine Coysevox

Jardin des Tuileries

 Jardin du Luxembourg

All photos by Pamela Graham for Cherish Toronto.

How to Choose the Perfect Area Rug

Considering last week's subject matter here on the blog, I thought this segment from The Marilyn Denis Show would be particularly appropriate. Home and decor expert Karl Lohnes shares some great tips about how to choose and find the perfect area rug.

Click the "play" arrow in the photo below to watch the video*:

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving

Just wanted to take a moment to wish all of you a very Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving weekend. Hopefully everyone has the chance to spend some quality time with family and friends. I am thankful for many blessings, and wish you all a warm and cozy holiday!!

Countdown to Paris!!

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As you read the title, of course you must pronounce it "Paree" as I do in my head. Je suis tres enthousiaste pour mon voyage!! I have no idea how my OAC level french will fare in the City of Light, but hopefully I will be able to muddle through with as little embarrassment as possible. The travel arrangements were made just a few weeks ago, and since then I've been selecting the key ingredients for a successful trip. I would like to visit as many highlights as possible, while at the same time I want to leave myself time to wander the streets and absorb the Parisian atmosphere.

My "Must See" Destinations

This one is obvious, right? Who visits Paris

without seeing La Tour Eiffel?

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Nearby is Place de la Concorde, which you're probably

familiar with if you've ever seen a movie filmed in Paris.

The public square is home to a beautiful pair

of fountains representing the rivers and the sea.

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No doubt I'll pass by the Arc de Triomphe

which is just a short walk from the square.

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I'm excited to be staying in the 6th arrondissement

 within just a few blocks of Jardin du Luxembourg.

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I imagine there will be time to visit The Pantheon,

an expansive mausoleum just east of the gardens.

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A visit to Paris wouldn't be complete without a visit

to these two very famous churches:

Notre Dame Cathedral & Sacre-Coeur Basilica

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At the first sign of rain I'll be visiting La Musee D'Orsay

which is known for housing the work of french

impressionists such as Monet, Renoir and Degas.

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If time allows, I'll take a day trip to visit the famous

and history rich Chateau de Versailles.

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There is so much to see, and I'll only be in Paris for five days!! Hopefully it will be enough time to see all of the sights I've highlighted above, and more. Have you visited Paris? What would you recommend as a "don't miss it" destination? Oh, and where should I eat on a pauper's budget? Suggestions welcome :-)