La vie de Sarah! Sarah's life

CT Call

2010-04-06T15:36:00.003-10:00

I am entering some of my layouts for the CT call at www.JessicaSprague.com. This would be a dream come true and a real opportunity to make creativity a bigger part of my life again.

She wants to see three of our best layouts but I have 4. I'm hesitating between the "Creating Life" one and the "Remember" one. She'll announce her picks on April 19th! Cross fingers...

Change! Changement!

2009-09-06T07:32:00.003-10:00

Vous avez du vous rendre compte que je ne visite plus souvent ce blog. C'est parce que j'ai un autre blog dont je m'occupe maintenant. Envoyez moi un e-mail si vous voulez avoir plus de details!

You must have noticed I do not update this blog much these days. That's because I am taking car of another blog now. Send me an e-mail if you'd like more details!

Chez nous! At home!

2009-07-20T07:50:00.002-10:00

Ca y est, on est installe dans notre nouvelle maison. Qu'est ce qu'on est bien! La plupart des cartons ne sont pas deballes mais bon...
Pour ceux qui se demandent pourquoi je n'ecris plus aussi souvent: en plus de la maison, je m'occupe d'un autre blog en ce moment pour un projet particulier et ca me prend pas mal de temps.

We're moved into our new house. We love it! Most boxes are not unpacked...
For those of you who are wondering why I don't write as often any more, please note that I am currently working on another blog for a particular project and that is taking most of time.

Demenagement! The move!

2009-06-22T08:09:00.003-10:00

Ca y est, on est en plein dans les cartons. On doit avoir fini cette semaine, Jeudi pour etre plus precis, car Vendredi, Samedi et Dimanche on doit etre present au salon des arts martiaux pour promouvoir l'ecole. Nos demenageurs ne nous ont toujours pas rappeles alors ca commence a faire juste... Je me suis occupe de l'etage (ou on vit) et Burton s'est occupe du rez de chaussee (ou on travaille) donc c'etait super. Il y a beaucoup plus a faire en bas qu'en haut! Presque toutes les etageres sont vides, la vaisselle emballee, les cartons empiles. Il ne nous reste plus qu'a transporter tout ca a la nouvelle maison et surtout les meubles, bien qu'ils soient peu nombreux: un lit, un petit meuble cuisine, deux tables et un canape (qui lui pese au moins une tonne!). C'est tout pour en haut. En bas, il y a une chaise de massage, un bureau et des etageres en plastique facile a demonter. Par contre il y a des dizaines de cartons (surtout nos livres!). Il va falloir faire un 2e tri une fois qu'on deballera tout ca chez nous parce que franchement, ca fait un peu beaucoup...

The move is in full force. We must be done this week, by Thursday would be best because we found out that we can get a free booth at the MMA expo this weekend and it would be a great opportunity to promote the business. The mover still has not called us back yet and we're cutting it close. I have been taking care of the upstairs (where we live) and Burton is doing the downstairs (where we work) and that's great for me because there's much more stuff downstairs! Almost all the shelves are empty, the dishes packed up, the boxes lined up in the middle of the living room. We just need to take it all to the new place, furniture included, although thank goodness we don't have much furniture: a bed, a small kitchen cabinet, a folding table, a stainless steel table and a very heavy recliner couch. Downstairs, there's a desk, a massage chair and a few plastic shelving units. Dozens of boxes, lots of books. We'll have to sort one more time and get rid of more things when we unpack because that's just too much for my taste.

Ca y est! We got them!

2009-06-14T18:48:00.003-10:00

On a recupere les cles de la maison ce Mercredi 11 Juin, qui marque egalement le 12e anniversaire du jour de notre rencontre pour Burton et moi. On n'aurait pas pu mieux choisir. Pour l'instant, on essaie surtout de recuperer du decalage horaire donc on n'a pas vraiment commence le gros du demenagement. On doit etre parti de notre location d'ici le 30 Juin donc on a le temps mais bon il va falloir s'y atteler quand meme.
On y etait encore ce matin et apres on a fait un petit tour a la plage. On est si impatient de commencer notre nouvelle vie.
On a filme les lieux et j'essaierai de mettre la video sur le blog au plus vite.

We got the keys to the new house on Wednesday, June 11th, which also marked the 12th anniversary of the day Burton and I met. We could not have picked a better day. As of right now, we are mainly trying to recover from jetlag and have not really started to move. We must be gone from our rental by June 30th so that gives us time BUT we must get to it asap.
We went by the house again today and then made a detour by the beach. We are so eager to start our new life in Kailua!
I will try to post a video that we took of the house asap.

Enfin des nouvelles! Finally, news...

2009-06-11T06:07:00.011-10:00

Je sais, je sais, ca fait un moment que je n'ai pas donne de nouvelles et en effet il s'en est passe des choses.
La plus importante etant que Burton et moi avons achete une maison! Un F4 sur un seul niveau. Un petite maison toute mignonne. 100 metre carres, suffisant pour nous.
3 chambres donc, 2 salles de bain, une avec douche, une avec baignoire. Une veranda spacieuse et couverte qu'on peut utiliser meme quand il pleut. Un petit jardin devant et une place de parking couverte. Parquet dans toutes les pieces sauf dans la cuisine ou c'est du faux (pergo?) et dans les salles de bain ou c'est des carreaux. Evidemment, ce qu'il y a de mieux avec cette maison, c'est ou elle se trouve... a 15 minutes a pieds de la plage... et quelle plage (l'une des plus belles de Hawaii comme vous pouvez le constater). Oui nous sommes heureux. Tres heureux. Ca fait plus de 10 ans que nous economisons et nous avons ete recompenses.
Kailua est notre ville preferree de Hawaii et bientot nous y vivrons. Combles!

Et la plage! Si vous voulez voir cette photo sur le site d'origine, cliquez ici (c'est la 2e photo sur le site. Il faut cliquer sur le bouton a droite de la photo qui dit: Kailua Beach Panorama)

On vient de rentrer de voyage donc on n'a meme pas encore les cles (on les recupere aujourd'hui!).
Nous emmenageons d'ici la fin du mois. Beaucoup de boulot en perspective.

Anniversaire! Birthday!

2009-03-31T23:44:00.004-10:00

Et un autre anniversaire de passe. 33 ans! Oh la la! J'ai bien fete. Soiree Karaoke la veille au soir avec deux couples d'amis. Pour la enieme annee, une belle tarte aux pommes comme gateau d'anniversaire. Comme d'habitude, bien gatee. Burton m'a offert un lecteur MP3 dernier cri: IPOD touch!
Ah oui, j'oubliais. J'ai mis une perruque pour l'occasion. Mes copains ont tous cru que je m'etais fait couper les cheveux...jusqu'a ce que j'enleve la perruque en fin de soiree.

Another birthday! 33 years young! Whoa! We celebrated well. We rented a private karaoke room and sang the night away with a few friends. As has been tradition for a few years now, I had a French Apple Tart as my birthday cake. And Burton spoiled me...again! I now belong to the IPOD generation. Ipod touch that is. I feel so special!
I almost forgot. I wore a wig to make the evening extra special! Everyone thought I had really cut my hair, until I took it off at the end of the evening!

Des photos de la soiree. More photos. Enjoy!

Pull ups update!

2009-03-12T16:56:00.002-10:00

One of my goals for this year was to be able to do one unassisted pull up.
Well so far, I can do 4 with just a tap with my feet at the bottom, but no actual rest. The fourth one required a bit of grunting!!! I have readjusted the goal to 10 by the end of the year! I can do it!

Zen moment!

2009-03-12T16:47:00.005-10:00

So in the past couple of days, we found out that three of our grappling mats were stolen over the weekend AND our website has been hacked in and is not available until we fix the problem.

I've been taking it relatively well. I didn't scream at all and am being very patient about it. Yesterday, I was in the kitchen and Burton exclaims:

"Honey, you look frazzled!"
"Well...Actually. Give me some credit. I think I've been pretty zen about this whole thing!"
"YOU may be Zen, but your hair isn't!"

I walk to the mirror and just couldn't stop laughing at my hair!

Deux ans! Two years!

2009-03-11T19:05:00.002-10:00

...que j'ai ce blog! C'est Burton qui s'en est souvenu. Que le temps passe. Deux ans sur le net. Deux ans d'anecdotes,d'histoires, d'emploi du temps. Deux ans de vie bien vecue.

...that I've been blogging. Burton wished me a "happy blogspot" day today. Two years of anecdotes, stories, and schedules. Two years of a life well lived and remembered and celebrated thanks to the net.

Romance!

2009-03-10T11:50:00.002-10:00

Mon mari est un romantique dans l'ame. Et il me le montre de facons tres differentes. Pour la Saint Valentin, j'etais en voyage et il avait cache une carte dans ma valise. Dans la carte, il y avait une adorable pair de boucles d'oreilles en forme de coeur et tout en strass rose. Aujourd'hui, j'etais en train de faire la vaisselle et il etait sur le lit en train de boire son smoothie et puis je vois qu'il est en train d'arranger la ceinture de mon short. Le cordon etait sorti de la taille. Je ne lui avais pas demande de faire ca. Mon short etait sur le lit et voila... Il a meme noue les noeuds un peu plus gros pour qu'ils restent en place. J'ai trouve ca tres tres romantique.

My husband is such a romantic and he shows it in many different ways. For Valentine's day, I was away on a trip so he had hidden a card in my suitcase and in the envelope there was also a very cute pair of heart shaped pink earrings. Today, I was doing the dishes and Burton was on the bed drinking his shake. But then I realized he was actually fixing the strings on my shorts. It had come out of the hole and I couldn't tie them at the waist any more and I don't have the patience to deal with this. The greatest part is that I hadn't even asked him to take care of it. He just happened to see my shorts on the bed and got to it. He even made sure to tie the ends in bigger knots so they wouldn't come off again. In my book: so, so romantic! .

Photoshop CS4 Tutorial!

2009-03-06T19:21:00.001-10:00

This is awesome! If you've done the switch to CS4 and would like to get great extractions including hair, watch this!

Carpe Diem!

2009-02-25T21:12:00.003-10:00

J'ai appris hier que la femme de notre dentiste est decedee la semaine derniere d'un anevrisme. Elle devait avoir la quarantaine. Un petit garcon de 8 ans. Mon dentiste est l'une des personne les plus genereuses, patientes que je connaisse. C'est vraiment quelqu'un de bien et qu'une chose comme lui arrive, ca montre bien que la vie n'est souvent pas juste. Alors, que ca nous serve de lecon: rien n'est permanent. Profitons de ceux qu'on aime tant qu'ils sont vivants. On ne sait jamais combien de temps nous avons.

I found out yesterday that my dentist's wife died last week of an aneurism. She must have been in her early forties. They have an 8 year old boy. My dentist is one of the sweetest, kindest, most compassionate persons I know. He's just such a good guy and I think it is so unfair that he must deal with this. Here you go, life's not fair. Nothing's permanent. Nothing's garanteed. Let it be a lesson and a reminder to us. We must enjoy what we have while we have it. We must appreciate those we love while they are alive! Nobody knows how much time we'll have together.

Documentaire! Documentary!

2009-02-21T22:13:00.002-10:00

Photos taken from Amazon.com

Burton et moi avons regarde un super documentaire sur la vie d'enfants qui vivent dans des bordels en Inde. L'auteur du documentaire leur a offert une sortie de secours via des cours de photographie. Un documentaire qui nous inspire. A ne pas manquer. Le documentaire existe en DVD et il y aussi un livre.
Le site internte: http://kids-with-cameras.org/home/

Burton and I watched a documentary tonight about the life of kids in India born in brothels. The author lived in the red light district and gave the kids photography classes and a way out of their misery. It is wonderfully inspiring. A must watch with the family to help your own kids put their life in perspective. There's a DVD and a book.
The website is: http://kids-with-cameras.org/home/

San Antonio!

2009-02-20T18:27:00.003-10:00

Je reviens de San Antonio au Texas ou j'ai passe une petite semaine avec ma copine, Kristin, son mari, Adam, et leur fils de 3 mois, Andrew. Ils ont une tres belle maison et j'avais l'impression d'etre dans un hotel de luxe. J'ai passe mes journees a papoter avec Kristin et jouer avec Andrew. Il est adorable (comme vous pouvez le constater vous meme)et a 3 mois pese deja presque 8 kilos! Une tres jolie petite famille et j'ai beaucoup de chance de les compter parmi mes amis.

I just came back from San Antonio where I spent just about a week with my friend, Kristin, her husband, Adam and their baby son, Andrew. They have a beautiful house and I felt like I was staying in a luxury hotel. I spent my days chatting away with Kristin and playing with Andrew. He is soooo cute! (as you can see) et already weighs 17 pounds at only 3 months old (he was born 10 lbs 12 ounces!). Truly a wonderful family and I am blessed to have such great people as friends.

Life! La vie!

2009-02-02T12:57:00.003-10:00

Pour ceux qui en ont besoin, la traduction est comme suit:
Le futur de cet enfant est un foyer instable
Son pere l'abandonnera
Sa mere se battera tant bien que mal pour l'elever seule
Malgre tous les obstacles qui se presenteront sur sa route
Cet enfant...
deviendra le premier president noir des Etats Unis
La VIE! Imaginez le potentiel!

Voici une pub qui n'est pas passee sur les ondes pendant le "Super Bowl" (football americain) parce qu'ils l'ont trouve trop politique. J'essaie generalement de ne pas parler politique sur mon blog, mais quant il s'agit de LA VIE, c'est trop important.
Pourquoi est ce qu'un embryon est un bebe le moment ou on fait pipi sur un test si on a decide qu'on veut le bebe, mais ce n'est qu'un tas de cellules sans importance et qu'on peut tuer si on a decide qu'on n'en veut pas? Partout dans le monde, des couples attendent avec impatience de pouvoir adopter. Partout dans le monde des personnes handicapees nous prouvent qu'elles contribuent au monde, que leur vie a de la valeur. Il suffit juste de penser a Helen Keller.
La VIE! Imaginez le potentiel!

Here is an ad that was not authorized to air during the Super Bowl. Reason: it was too political. I tend to also prefer not to make my blog political but to me LIFE is more important than any politic. This is a great ad. It makes complete sense. Why is it a baby the moment we pee on a test if we want it but it's nothing and we can kill it, if we don't want it? People are waiting all over the world and the United States to adopt. Disabled children have proven all over the world that they do contribute, that their life matters. Helen Keller, anybody?
LIFE! Imagine the potential!

2009-01-23T14:39:00.003-10:00

"Failing is not terminal
Failing gives you an opportunity to figure out what went wrong and stand back up."
As heard on the Dr Laura show, November 14th, 2008 (end of hour 2)

This resonnated with me.

2009-01-01T11:21:00.000-10:00

Toujours en vie. Still alive!

2008-12-19T09:07:00.002-10:00

Ca fait un moment, je sais. J'ai passe moins de temps sur l'ordi, plus de temps a lire, a me ballader, a travailler (!) et a emballer les cadeaux. Moins d'une semaine et c'est Noel. Difficile a croire. Il ne fait pas tres frais ici. Generalement il fait dans les 20 ou 22 degres et la il fait 27, 28 degres tous les jours. Je ne bois pas de tisane le soir; je n'ai pas sorti les grosses couettes; et je n'ai pas encore eu besoin de mettre de pulls ou de pyjamas le soir. Ca fait pas tres Noel...
Cependant, nous avons deja achete notre petit sapin (photo a suivre) et avons deja accumule pas mal de cadeaux dessous. La plupart de ces cadeaux seront distribues dans les jours qui viennent.
Cet apres midi, nous allons a une petite reception chez notre kine.
Dimanche, c'est notre reunion annuelle de Noel avec nos eleves.
Tout va bien.

I know it's been a while since my last post. I've been reading more, working more, hanging out more and now also wrapping presents more. Not as much time for the computer unless it's for work.
Can you believe that Christmas is in less than a week? Would you believe...5 days?
He has been very cold here. No herbal teas for me at night. No pajamas. No big down comforters needed. Not even a sweater. Not very Christmasy.
We have bought our little tree (I'll post a photo later) and have quite a few gifts underneath alrady. Most of those gifts will be delivered in the next few days.
This afternoon, we're going to a party at our physical therapist's office.
Sunday, it will be our very own JKDU christmas party.
All is well.

Thankful for the USA!

2008-11-25T14:56:00.004-10:00

This quote says it best:

"I don't think of myself as "proud" to be an American, rather "lucky" to
be one.
I have tremendous faith that although small injustices will always
plague humanity, the greatest injustices will be opposed by Americans."
Clint Black

sagesse reunionaise

2008-11-21T10:33:00.002-10:00

Entendu lors d'une interview a la tele:

"Ti source i coule doucement
i coule plus longtemps
Gros source i coule rapidement
mais pou un instant"

De retour! I'm back!

2008-11-11T20:26:00.002-10:00

De retour a Hawaii. Super decalee comme d'hab. J'ai passe un super sejour. Plus de details plus tard.

I'm back in Hawaii. Super jetlagged as usual. I had a great trip. More details later.

Voyage! Trip!

2008-10-04T17:03:00.004-10:00

Et un nouveau voyage s'annonce. Mercredi Burton et moi prenons l'avion pour Paris via Los Angeles et Frankfort. On quitte Honlulu a 7h39 du matin mercredi et on arrive a Paris Jeudi soir (jeudi matin a Hawaii) donc on a bien 24 heures de voyage devant nous.
Mais on ne s'arrete pas la. Le lendemain, Burton lui prend le train pour Caen ou il va donner un stage. Moi je prends l'avion pour La Reunion (11 heures de plus).
Burton reviendra sur Paris pour quelques jours apres son stage, ensuite il prend l'avion pour Birmingham, Angleterre ou il va assister aux championnats d'Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Un des participants, Chris Lebe, vit a Hawaii et Burton l'a entraine pendant quelques mois. Burton me rejoindra a La Reunion le 21 Octobre et on repart ensemble le 6 Novembre avec de nouveau deux petites journees sur Paris.
Quelle aventure.

A new trip is coming up. On Wednesday, Burton and I are leaving for Paris via Los Angeles and Frankfurt. We leave Honolulu at 7.39 am on Wednesday and will arrive in Paris Thursday night (thursday morning hawaii time) so we'll have a good 24 hours of travel.
And that will not be the end of it. The next day, Burton hops on a train to go 2 hours away to CAEN where he'll be teaching a seminar. I will be going back to the airport for a flight to Reunion Island (another 11 hours!).
After the seminar, Burton will have a couple more days in Paris where he plans to visit the Louvre and then he'll fly to Birmingham, England for the next UFC. Burton's been training one of the fighters, Chris Leben, and he's excited to be able to watch the fight live. He'll meet me in Reunion Island on October 21st and we'll both leave together on November 6th breaking the journey back with another couple of days in Paris.
What an adventure?

Shopping!

2008-09-28T11:57:00.006-10:00

Ces derniers jours je suis allee faire du shopping et voici quelques photos des deux tenues que je me suis achete. Et bien sur je n'ai pas dit non au defile de mode!

I've been doing some shopping and here are two of my purchases. Who can say no to an opportunity for a little modeling. Not me...

Taille 2! Size 2!

2008-09-27T00:08:00.007-10:00

Je viens donc de m'acheter des vetements en taille deux, equivalent d'un 36 j'imagine. Ca fait quand meme un bail que je n'ai pas fait cette taille la. La preuve en photos.

A memorable week. I went shopping and for the first time of my USA life bought a size 2.
And I have proof!

Et comme si un taille 2 ne suffisait pas, je fais aussi du XXS!
And as if a size 2 wasn't enough, I also wear XXS!

je prendrai quelques photos des tenues completes des que possible parce qu'un evenement pareil se doit d'etre marque dignement. Et en plus j'ai meme eu de super soldes!

I'll try and do a little modeling of the complete outfits soon. This needs to be remembered! And you'll notice I've gotten great bargains...

My passion

2008-09-23T23:35:00.003-10:00

It's the day for questions... and answers.
One of the blogs that I follow is from Jessica Sprague and she asked what our passion is and what we are doing to pursue it.
This is what I wrote:

Hi Jessica, If I had to sum it up, I would say I have a passion for learning. I am not from America originally, and this country makes it so easy to pursue whatever it is you want. I remember seeing an ad for a non credit class at the local college:" how to install a door" and I thought: Woah! So I've taken advantage of that. In the past 10 years since I've lived here, I've taken non credit classes at the university. I've enrolled in adult evening school courses at the local highschool. I've borrowed books at the library on many subjects from photography, to computer science, to anger management. I've signed up online for your classes and crossed off one of my goals of learning to use photoshop. I joined a friend for a scrapbooking get together and was hooked. I've tried hip hop, and tahitian dancing, lei making and will be trying breakdancing soon. Then this year, I decided to take my passion for martial arts a step further and I trained for 8 months to prepare for my instructor test- which I passed 2 weeks ago. You can see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZe8NnRnuVk I decided to get my body in its best shape ever and I'm in the third month of the program. I've already lost about 10 lbs and gone down 2 dress sizes. My passion for learning has made me a better person, a better wife, a healthier individual both physically and mentally. I work on it everyday and I'm proud of myself. Thank you for your help along the way. aloha, Sarah B.R

Questionnaire

2008-09-23T15:36:00.006-10:00

Photo taken a few minutes ago

Got this questionnaire from a friend today. Thought everyone would enjoy reading the answers.

1. What is your occupation right now?
Owner of Jeet Kune Do Unlimited/ MMA For The Street. This includes answering the phone, stocking merchandise, videotaping our instructional videos, taking photos for articles and books, doing the bookkeeping and taxes, setting up seminars, signing up students, updating our website and a few more things...

2. What color are your socks right now?
no socks.

3. What are you listening to right now?
no radio on. the stream in our yard. The birds singing.

4. What was the last thing that you ate?
vegetarian soy drumsticks with potatoes and onions in a garlic tomato sauce over steamed coliflower (and a york mint to finish it off).

5. Can you drive a stick shift?
Definitely! I actually couldn't drive an automatic until a few years ago. I just couldn't imagine being on a hill and let go of the gas pedal. I still use the hand break most of the times.

6. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
My financial advisor.

7. Do you like the person who sent this to you?
Very much so! Lenny is just wonderful.

8. How old are you today?
32 and a few months young!

9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?
It used to be tennis. I would now have to say MMA.

10. What is your favorite drink?
Juice: Red Grape Juice/ Coffee shop: Iced Mocha/ Alcohol: Malibu with pineapple juice or Pina Colada.

11. Have you ever dyed your hair?
Back when I was a TV hostess, I had red highlights. I really don't like to maintain these kind of things so I'll never do it again! (never say never?)

12. Favorite food?
Food in general!

13. What is the last movie you watched?
Green Street Hooligans a few days ago. I wasn't impressed.

14. Favorite day of the year?
Today! Since I'm alive and Burton too.

15. How do you vent anger?
If I'm really angry, I'll end up throwing something on the ground and/or hitting something. Nowadays, I head straight for our bubba dummy (martial arts dummy that looks like a person) and start beating him up.

16. What was your favorite toy as a child?
I remember having a baby like doll. Loved that.

17. What is your favorite season?
I love Hawaii since any season is a great season! As long as it's not cold, I'm good to go.

18. Cherries or Blueberries?
Cherries. Love, love, love cherries!

22. When was the last time you cried?
I haven't cried 'for real' in a long time but I do cry a lot when I hear a good ad or watching movies!

23. What is on the floor of your closet?
nothing. I have a pretty organized closet.

25. What did you do last night?
did some shopping at wholefoods and worked on a scrapbook album for my pregnant girlfriend.

26. What are you most afraid of?
Outliving Burton.

27. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers?
Spicy vegetarian Burgers

28. Favorite dog breed?
I like big dogs as long as they don't drool. But small dogs are cute too. I used to really dislike dogs and now, I really like dogs, as long as they are sweet.

29. Favorite day of the week?
Sunday. I get to eat whatever I want!

30. How many states have you lived in?
2 (California and Hawaii) but I've lived in Reunion Island, Germany, France and the USA.

31. What's your favorite color?
Red

Now you know everything!

Instructor test. Details

2008-09-10T11:01:00.009-10:00

C'est moi qui ai cree le diplome!
by the way, I designed the certificate!

Je viens d'ecrire un article sur mon experience d'hier.
C'est sur notre site ici (en Anglais!). D'autres photos accompagnent l'article.
En resume, je m'en suis bien sortie mais je pouvais plus trop bouger vers la fin. Heureusement que Burton m'a masse les jambes hier soir apres une bonne douche chaude parce que j'aurais sans doute pas pu marcher ce matin sinon.

cliquer sur l'image pour voir le coup de pied en action!

click on picture to see the kick in action!

I just wrote an article about the whole test experience. It's on our website here. More photos illustrate the article.
I did well but it's some feeling to be that exhausted. I'm lucky Burton massaged my legs last night after my warm shower because I probably could not have walked today otherwise.

Ca y est! I did it!

2008-09-10T00:32:00.003-10:00

Donc j'ai passe mon test. Je suis crevee. J'ai les jambes en compote. Plus de details demain.
J'aurai des photos Jeudi. Quelle experience.

I passed! I'm exhausted. My legs are shot! I'll write more tomorrow and I'll get the photos from my student on Thursday. What an experience!

Jour J! D Day!

2008-09-09T14:07:00.003-10:00

Ca y est plus que quelques heures et je passerai mon test d'instructeur. Ca fait 8 mois que je m'entraine et je suis prete. Je suis plutot calme. Depuis hier j'ai le nez qui coule: petit coup de froid ou allergies, je ne sais pas. Evidemment ca fait des semaines que je n'ai pas de probleme de sinus et il a fallu que ca revienne maintenant. Mais bon, c'est pas ca qui va m'arreter. J'ai l'habitude et puis souvent quand je m'entraine ca me degage les sinus.
Le diplome est chez l'imprimeur (j'espere que Burton va le signer!). Beaucoup de gens m'ont envoye des e-mails ou appele pour m'encourager et pas mal de mes amis vont venir sur place. Ca va etre cool. Je serai le centre d'attention et on sait tous que ca ne me derange pas du tout!

Only a few hours until my instructor test. I've been training for it 8 months and I'm ready. I'm actually really calm today. I've had a stuffy nose since yesterday. I'm not sure if I have a cold or allergies. I hadn't had any sinus problems for weeks now and of course it had to come back right now! I'm not gonna let it affect me though. I've trained with stuffy nose before and I know I can handle it. It might actually help me breathe better to work out really hard.
The certificate is ready to be picked up from the printer and I hope Burton will sign it! Lots of people have e-mailed their good wishes and quite few will be in attendance this evening. I'll be the center of attention tonight and we all know I enjoy that!

Quelques Photos! A couple of shots!

2008-09-08T18:25:00.006-10:00

J'ai pris ces deux photos en quelques secondes dans une salle de gym. Un petit lezard qui s'est perdu.

I took these shots at a gym. The poor little gecko was lost.

GPS

2008-09-04T23:28:00.002-10:00

Burton just figured out what this translates to in our world of Mixed Martial Arts For The Street training: Groin Positioning system.
I have a great GPS. That groin is always my primary target when I'm sparring.
Beware!

Gone with the wind!

2008-09-04T11:49:00.005-10:00

So today Burton and I are talking about what's sexy and I tell him:

"when Brett Rutler carries Scarlett up the stairs, now that's sexy!"

Burton: "Brett Rutler? Brett Rutler? You mean Rhett Butler?"

By then, we're both laughing really hard and I can barely breathe!

Later in the morning, I call Burton at home and ask: "Is Brett available please?"

Burton: "No, I'm sorry he's busy with Charlotte O'Leary right now!"

Ha, Ha, Ha.

Le prix... The price...

2008-08-28T14:48:00.005-10:00

de mon entrainement et de mes progres.
of my training and progress.

Mon test aura lieu dans un peu moins de 2 semaines, le 9 Septembre. Et je m'entraine tellement que j'ai toujours quelques bleus sur le corps, mais la je crois que j'ai battu mon record personel. J'en ai compte 13 (et j'en avais quelques uns sur les jambes aussi). J'ai ecris un article sur mon entrainement. L'article est en Anglais mais vous pouvez le lire ici sur notre site internet.

My test is scheduled for a little less than 2 weeks, Sept 9th. I train really hard and a few bruises are inevitable. However, I think this is a personal record. I counted 13 (and I had a few on my legs as well.)I actually wrote an article about my training for one of our newsletters. You can read it here on our site.

2008-08-20T20:28:00.004-10:00

Photo from Amazon.com

Burton and I watched this movie a few days ago and it has made a big impression. The first 15 minutes or so don' t make much sense and the foul language and overall gang like behavior was hard to take in. Now, be warned, it is crude. There is violence and heavy sexual content along with strong display of drug use.
However, Burton and I discussed it afterwards and we agreed that if we had a teenager, we'd totally watch this movie as a family as a way to discuss the concept of consequences to actions and the power of decision making. You can make good ones or bad ones and each has a consequence and kids don't often think like that.
I think it's very powerful. If your kid is 13 and over, I would suggest watching it. As a family and making a point to discuss it afterwards! It is rated R.
It really is a moving story and one that might stay with your kid their entire life, helping them make the right choices in possibly wrong situations.
Of course, it's probably best you watch it first by yourself.

New Blog Header!

2008-08-15T13:17:00.004-10:00

After I saw Karistamps redesign her entire blog. I couldn't help myself. It took a whole morning of playing around with the template's HTML code but I got it to look pretty much the way I wanted.

Credits:
Blog Header
* Cloud paper: twopeasinabucket.com\Misc\10000047\Pink October Free Kit by 2ps Designers \Jennifer Pebbles
* Sweet Frame: littledreamerdesigns\Lydia_Week4
* Circle Frame: littledreamerdesigns\JuliaMakotinsky_week3
* Sparkle overlay:kjerstic.blogspot.com\Freebie Golden Star

Blog Background
* twopeasinabucket.com\Misc\10000047\Pink October Free Kit by 2ps Designers\Jennifer Pebbles

Bed Spectacles!

2008-08-10T21:20:00.004-10:00

Burton ordered these for me and gave them to me today! We saw them first in the movie "the Bucket list" and it looked too funny. Tried them on already and it's pretty darn cool. Takes a little bit of getting used to but definitely very comfortable. I read my magazine in bed and didn't have to hold the mag up. Very cool.

La toute premiere/ The very first!

2008-08-06T15:02:00.007-10:00

...photo prise de Burton et moi. Environ cinq minutes apres notre premiere rencontre. On dirait pas, je sais. A croire que c'etait notre destinee.
Photo 11 Juin 1997

...photo taken of Burton and I. About 5 minutes after our very first meeting. Looks like we'd known each other for years. Maybe we had...
Photo June 11, 1997

Bill Phillips inspiration

2008-08-05T23:23:00.002-10:00

The growth is in the earning of it,

not just the owning of it.
If there were a pill

to help you transform your health and life overnight,
I wouldn’t dare give it to you
I wouldn’t even think of taking away

all that you’ll gain by doing the work.

Bill Phillips

Notes en vrac! Random notes

2008-08-03T08:32:00.004-10:00

Ma vie suit un rythme assez monotone mais accelere. Mes journees sont organisees a la minute pres et quand le soir arrive, je me detends sur le canape plutot que sur l'ordinateur d'ou un interval de plus en plus longs entre mes apparitions "blogaires!".

Plus que deux mois avant mon prochain voyage en France et a La Reunion.
Plus qu'un mois avant mon test d'instructeur de Jeet Kune Do Unlimited. La date a ete fixee au 9 Septembre. Je m'entraine depuis le 1er Janvier avec seulement deux semaines d'interruption lors de notre voyage en Mai. A partir de Lundi on va y mettre les bouchees doubles surtout pour l'endurance. Niveau technique, c'est fou ce que j'ai progresse deja.
Hier on a commence a filme notre prochaine serie de DVDs (Battlefield Kali).
On vient de mettre en vente tout notre programme sur DVD (a voir ici)
Le prochain livre de Burton (MMA For The Street) est entre les mains de l'editeur et j'ai aide a creer le design pour la couverture.
Comme vous avez pu le remarquer, pas de scrapbooking depuis deja 3 mois! Pas le temps. Pas l'energie. Mais l'envie est la, alors je vais m'y remettre!

Comme c'est Dimanche, et qu'on s'est reveille a 7 heures, je crois que je vais faire une petite sieste maintenant (8h45!)

My life is on automatic right now but the pace is definitely quite fast. My days are organized and full and when comes night time, I only want to relax on the couch instead of in front of the computer which explains the long interval between blog posts lately.

Only 2 months til my trip to Paris and Reunion.
Only 1 month til my instructor test in our Jeet Kune Do Unlimited program. The date has been set for September 9th. I've been training since January first with only 2 weeks off during our May trip. As of Monday, I'm going to kick it up a notch! Definitely need to increase my endurance and I'll be working out harder for the next few weeks. My technical skill has definitely increased already.
Yesterday, we started filming our Battlefield Kali program.
Our entire curriculum is now available on DVD as well. Check it out here.
Burton's next book (MMA For The Street) is being put together right now and I helped design the cover (in addition to taking all the photos for the inside and being paid for it!)
As you noticed, no scrapbooking in the last three months. I just don't have the time or the energy but I certainly miss it so I'll squeeze some in soon. Heck I haven't really been taking photos either.
Well, it's Sunday and we got up at 7 am, so I think it's now time for a little nap (8.45 am!)

2008-07-24T23:10:00.003-10:00

Un de ces studios professionels ou on vous maquille et coiffe et prepare pour une seance photo. J'ai eu un coupon pour une session gratuite. Tres Hawaienne n'est ce pas?

One of those photo salons at the mall. I had a coupon and went with my girlfriend Dawn. The whole thing was free and I really enjoyed getting made up. I got the free shot to take home, of course with their advertisement stamp. Oh well. What do you think of my Hawaiian Impression?

Allergies.

2008-07-16T22:36:00.002-10:00

Disons juste que je suis fatiguee ces derniers temps et debordee. Je viens de passer les 7 dernieres nuits sur le canape plutot que dans mon lit. Avec mes allergies et le nez bouche, ca va mieux si je suis assise plutot qu'allongee alors je commence a fatiguer. Je ne pouvais pas prendre de medicaments car j'avais rendez vous chez le specialiste et un anti-histamine aurait fausse le test.
J'y etais aujourd'hui et il m'a egalement teste pour les allergies alimentaires et il se trouve que je suis allergique a la Biere!
A part ca, je m'entraine 6 jours/semaine. Test d'instructeur prevu pour le 18 Septembre.

I've just been tired. Tired and busy. I've spent the last 7 nights on the couch so that I could be upright and breathe a little bit better. Allergies have been severe lately and I couldn't take medicine because I had an appointment with the specialist. Any antihistamin within 4 days would affect the skin tests. So I went today and popped a clarityn D as soon as I was done! By the way, he also tested me for food allergies, and turns out I'm allergic to Beer!
Otherwise, still training hard to prepare for my instructor test scheduled for September 18th.

Photoshoot July 8th, 2008

2008-07-11T22:00:00.002-10:00

All photos taken by Burton.
Copyrighted material

Une nouvelle photo! A new photo!

2008-07-11T19:29:00.010-10:00

Avant/ Before
Apres/ After
copyright SBR

Une petite seance de portraits a la maison. Photographiee par mon mari comme d'hab'.
Plus un petit exercice pour ameliorer une photo via photoshop.
Photo prise 8 Juillet 2008.

We had a photo session at home the other night. And if I may say so myself, Burton took some great photos. However, a little editing in photoshop can only help. Here I used the "Photo Shazam" tutorial by Jessica Sprague. I also cropped the final image.
Photo July 8, 2008

Star Spangled Banner

2008-07-01T10:05:00.001-10:00

This is great and worth listening to. Make sure all the kids are around. Great way to remember what it's all about.
Enjoy!

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=21689194

Letchis! Lychees!

2008-06-27T13:23:00.011-10:00

C'est l'ete. La saison des mangues et des letchis. Il y a un arbre super charge dans le jardin du voisin. Aujourdh'ui Burton est alle a la cueillette. Les fruits sont tres petits mais sucres, juteux et le "grain" (noyau pour ceux qui ne parlent pas creole!) est vraiment petit. Quel regal. Rien que le parfum me transporte a la Reunion. Que de souvenirs associes a ce fruit. Fetes de fin d'annee. Chaleur torride. Ventes de petards et feux d'artifices sur le trottoir de la rue Marechal Leclerc. Vendeurs de letchis juste a cote et moi qui me regale toute la journee. Les doigts collants et l'ame heureuse.

It's summer. And the season for our tropical fruits:mangos and lychees. There's a tree that is full right now in our neighbor's yard and Burton went to pick some today. The fruits are very small compared to the variety found in Reunion Island but they are still very sweet and juicy. And the seed is very small. Just to smell them transports me to my childhood in Reunion Island. So many memories come to mind. Over there, Summer is at the end of the year, so we celebrate Christmas and New Year in the heat. From age 11 on, I used to sell fireworks on the sidewalk and the lychee vendors would have stalls right next to me. They'd let me eat as much as I wanted all day long. I'd have sticky fingers but it all was oh so wonderful.

Body for Life for Women by Pamela Peeke

2008-06-24T11:31:00.003-10:00

Just started reading this. Had read the original Body For life by Bill Phillips many years ago.
One sentence from the Body For life for Women Pledge that stuck:

"I will embrace adversity as an opportunity to test my mental and physical strength"

2008-06-21T21:51:00.003-10:00

Ah, il ne faut pas demander d'explications. Quand il fait froid dehors, on s'amuse comme on peut a l'interieur.
Italie, Mai 2008.

Don't ask! This is just what we do to entertain ourselves. Who needs TV?!
Italy, May 2008

Si je ne devais en choisir qu'une/ If I had to choose just one!

2008-06-21T21:36:00.002-10:00

Si je ne devais choisir qu'une seule photo de ce dernier voyage, ce serait celle ci. Vue des alpes, d'un petit village au nord de l'Italie. Je n'ai pas pris autant de photos que d'habitude cette fois ci (environ 200!). J'ai prefere plutot profiter de l'instant present. Mais bon, je suis contente d'avoir eu un appareil sous la main (malheureusement pas le mien) pour immortaliser ce paysage.

If I had to choose only one photo of the last trip, this would be it. A wonderful view of the Alps from a small northern Italian village. I didn't take as many photos as usual this time (only about 200!). I preferred just enjoying the moments. However, I was happy to have a camera handy (unfortunately not my own) to record this beautiful landscape.

copyright SBR. May 2008.

Mes voyages/ My trips

2008-06-21T21:11:00.007-10:00

Un recapitulatif de mes voyages/ A summary of my trips

a travers le monde/ worldwide

en Europe/ in Europe

et aux Etats-Unis/ and in the USA

cartes faites sur world66.com
maps provided by world66.com

Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham

2008-06-20T20:02:00.003-10:00

I ran out of books when I got in Germany and was given this book by the wife of the seminar host. This is not one I would have picked for myself but I figured it would keep me busy for the remainder of the trip.
The first 200 pages were pretty tedious to read and I wondered where this was going but I figured I might as well keep on reading just in case. I did get more interested and finished the book today and quite enjoyed it after all.

Two passages really made me pause and think:

"There is nothing so degrading as the constant anxiety about one's mean to livelihood. I have nothing but contempt for the people who despise money. They are hypocrites or fools. Money is like a sixth sense without which you cannot make a complete use of the other five. Without an adequate income, half the possibilities of life are shut off. "

"...Religion is a matter of temperament; you will believe anything if you have the religious turn of mind, and if you haven't it doesn't matter what beliefs were instilled into you, you will grow out of them".

De retour! I'm back!

2008-06-18T16:02:00.002-10:00

Juste un petit mot tout court pour annoncer notre retour chez nous. On est arrive hier apres un superbe voyage. Tout s'est tres bien passe. Contente d'etre a la maison.
Plus de details dans les jours a venir.

Just a small note to say we're back home. We arrived yesterday. The trip was wonderful. Everything went very well. We are happy to be home.
I'll write more in the next few days.

Voyage! Trip!

2008-05-13T23:15:00.008-10:00

Photos copyright SBR.

Photo prise en 2003: la vue de la salle de gym a San Damiano d'Asti, Italie. (je suis sure que rien n'a change!). Photo taken in 2003: The view from the gym in San Damiano D'Asti. (I'm pretty sure nothing's changed!)

Ca y est le compte a rebours a commence. Nous prenons l'avion ce Vendredi matin a 7heures! Destination Turin, Italie ou notre eleve viendra nous recuperer. Une petite heure de route jusqu'a San Damiano D'Asti. Le Jeudi suivant, on prendra le train pour Parme ou la premiere journee de stage se deroulera le Samedi. Samedi soir on revient sur San Damiano. Dimanche, stage a Alba (c'est la qu'ils font le Nutella!).

Le Mercredi d'apres on prend l'avion pour Munich ou mes amis viendront nous chercher et on passera quelques jours avec eux.
Dimanche on prend le train pour aller un peu plus au Nord de la Baviere a Neustadt an der Waldnaab pour une semaine qui inclut un stage le weekend suivant.

Mardi 10 Juin, on s'envole pour Los Angeles. Burton enseignera une journee de stage le Jeudi 12. A part ca. on compte manger! Ses parents viendront passer la semaine avec nous.
Le 17, on rentre aux bercailles. Et comme on vit a Hawaii, c'est presque comme ci on on rentrait pour prendre des vacances.
J'essaierai de vous tenir au courant de mes aventures.

Baviere. Bavaria

Countdown has started for our next trip.
We leave this Friday at 7 am. We'll land in Turin Italy (via L.A) where our instructor will pick us up and we'll drive about an hour to San Damiano D'Asti. The following Thursday, we'll take the train to Parma where Burton will teach his first day of seminar on Saturday.
We'll come back to San Damiano that evening and teach the second day of seminar in Alba (where they make the Nutella spread).

Wednesday after that we fly to Munich. My friends will pick us up and we'll spend a few days hanging out with them.
We'll take the train up to the central part of Bavaria to Neustadt an der Waldnaab for the next seminar.

Los Angeles

We'll leave Germany, Tuesday June 10th, flying to Los Angeles where we'll be one week. Burton will only teach one day on Thursday so our main plans revolve around eating! We have our favorite places...Burton's parents will also drive down from Mount Shasta to spend the week with us and we'll get to see his sister(s) as well.

On June 17th, we'll fly back home and since we live in Hawaii, it'll just feel like we're flying to go on vacation! too cool.

I'll keep you up to date as much as possible.

Hawaii

Photos copyright of SBR

La preuve... The proof...

2008-05-11T12:01:00.007-10:00

...qu'on vit a Hawaii. Une noix de coco en plein milieu de la rue!

...that we live in Hawaii. A coconut in the middle of the street. Oh yeah!

Mes cuisses! My thighs!

2008-05-11T11:51:00.003-10:00

Burton ne peut pas s'entrainer depuis quelques semaines due a un probleme a la clavicule. Du coup il a un peu perdu de muscles et n'est pas tres content.
Pour l'embeter, un soir alors qu'on est allonge tous les deux, les genoux plies, je luis dis:
"C'est pas pour me vanter, cheri, mais il semblerait que mes cuisses soient plus grosses que les tiennes"
Burton repond: "Il y a vraiment pas de quoi se vanter, ma cherie!"
Aie, aie, aie....

Burton hasn't been able to train the past few weeks due to an injury of his clavicle. He's lost some muscles and is not too happy about that.
One evening, we're both lying on the bed in the same position with our knees bent and to tease him, I say: "Honey, I don't want to brag, but my thighs are bigger than yours!"
To which he responds: " That's nothing to brag about, honey!"
Ouch! I guess the joke's on me!

Photo op

2008-05-05T22:54:00.006-10:00

C'est un site japonais qui permet de "vieillir" sa photo instantanement. J'ai fait quelques modifications de plus sur Photoshop apres. Photo prise dans le parking d'un restau a Chinatown. Je l'ai prise un peu vite pour pas deranger.

I found this japanese site through the photojojo newsletter which allows you to instantly age a photo. I made a few more changes with Photoshop. This photo was taken in the parking lot of a restaurant in Chinatown. I kind of hurried to take it.

avant / before

apres / after

et encore apres/ and after again

six word autobiography!

2008-04-27T16:20:00.005-10:00

I first read about this on Cathy Zielske's blog here and then I read it in Reader's Digest as well. You can buy the book here.
The first autobiography that came to me was: "Never have given up on myself".
Burton's pick was:
"Never wake up to alarm clock".

Others that made their way into my brain:

"Yes, I'll have whipped cream too"
"Never thought I'd love being married"
"Daddy's girl, husband's wife, world citizen"
"Allergies suck, Scrapbooking rocks, Life's weird"

What would your six word autobiography be?

Photo courtesy of Amazon.com

2008-04-26T23:10:00.003-10:00

Last night. I'm reading in bed.
Burton: " Do you have enough light there?"
Sarah (slightly annoyed): "well actually. Listen to this! (reading excerpt of article): '83% of readers think that reading in dim light leads to poor eyesight. It is a culprit'...see!"
Sarah stops then asks "what does culprit mean?"
Apparently this article didn't help her prove her point at all!

2008-04-26T23:08:00.001-10:00

Sarah: "What do you think of the product review I wrote for our newsletter?"
Burton (impressed): "Very nice. You were listening when I talked about it!"
Sarah: " See. I do listen. I just usually am talking at the same time!"

Burton et moi dans un parking! Burton and I in parking lot!

2008-04-26T22:36:00.006-10:00

Non, ce n'est pas ce que vous pensez. Burton decide d'aller au 3e etage de ce parking pour voir si il y a des appartements a vendre dans cet immeuble. Il y a un panneau qui dit "residents seulement" et un grillage. Comme une voiture en sort, il decide d'entrer en se disant que la grille s'ouvrira automatiquement une fois qu'on est de l'autre cote pour en ressortir. Pas vraiment non!

No, it's not what you think! Burton decides to drive up this ramp to check if they are having any open house going on in this appartment building. We're at the third floor, there's a cone in front of us and to the right, there's a sliding gate with a sign over it: Resident parking only. Since there's a car coming out, Burton decides to go in even though we are not residents and figures the gate probably has a sensor to open automatically once you're driving out. Not so... Not so.

He bumped the camera off so that I wouldn't get a shot of the sign!Too funny.

Entrainement! Training!

2008-04-23T21:16:00.005-10:00

Vous ne le savez peut etre pas, mais cette annee j'ai l'intention de passer mon examen pour le niveau "instruteur" dans notre "systeme" d'arts martiaux. Il etait temps. Je me suis donc mise tres serieusement a l'entrainement depuis debut Janvier. Lundi et Mercredi, Burton m'enseigne pendant une demi-heure. Mais depuis qu'il s'est fait mal a l'epaule il y a deux semaines, c'est Dave, son copain qui me sert de partenaire d'entrainement (comme vous le voyez il est juste un p'tit peu plus gros que moi!). C'est vraiment cool de pouvoir s'entrainer avec quelqu'un de cette taille. Mardi et Jeudi soirs, je m'entraine pendant nos cours de groupe. (environ 1h30 a 2 heures). Et le Vendredi matin, je m'entraine avec deux filles a l'ecole d'un copain de Burton (Egan Inoue). Elles ont au moins 5 kilos sur moi et s'entrainent pour des competitions alors l'intensite est la mais j'ai fait beaucoup de progres depuis qu'on a commence! Ceux d'entre vous qui sont curieux de savoir en quoi consiste le test, peuvent voir une video sur notre site ici.
Ca devrait se faire entre Juillet et Septembre de cette annee.
Et bien sur on filmera!
PS: j'ai perdu 4 kilos depuis Janvier!

For those of you who don't know, I'm training to take my instructor test in our JKD Unlimited/MMA For The Street curriculum. I've been training for so long without ever really being disciplined and consistent about it. I've started my new training regimen in January and I'm happy to report, I've stuck with it and have made much progress. On Mondays and Wednesdays, Burton teaches me for about half an hour. However, since he hurt himself a couple of weeks ago, his usual training partner, Dave, serves as my training partner right now. (As you can see, he only has a few pounds on me!). It really is cool to be able to practice with someone of his size. Tuesdays, and Thursdays I join in our regular group classes (for about 1.5 to 2 hours). And on Fridays, I train with two girls at the school of a friend of ours (Egan Inoue). Those girls are also bigger than me (at least 10 pounds) and they go pretty hard since one of them is training for competition but I've definitely gotten better since I started with them. If you want to check out what an instructor is like, go here to watch a video of the last test we had. Mine should happen between July and September and yes we will film!

PS: I've lost 9 pounds already since January.

Une autre! One more!

2008-04-22T13:02:00.003-10:00

Sans commentaires. Juste une autre page pour mon album.
Photos de Burton prises le 19.Avril. 2008

No comments. Just another page for my album.
Photos of Burton taken April 19th, 2008

Layout Credits:
Page design by Jessica Sprague
Torn paper edge: From Chunky Torn Paper Edges set by Anna Aspnes
Torn Journaling Card template: from Torn-n-Tattered Paper Templates by Anna Aspnes
Green patterned paper: From Hope kit by Amanda Rockwell
Starburst paper: from Patience kit by Amanda Rockwell
Dictionary text paper: From Botanist No. 4 kit by Katie Pertiet
Number overlay: from Counting Trash Overlays set by Katie Pertiet
Graphic pop edge: from Graphic Pop Edgers Set No. 2 by Katie Pertiet
Storyboard frame: from Storyboard Negatives set by Katie Pertiet
Love You circle embellishment: From Romantics Brushes-n-Stamps set by MaryAnn Wise

Et une autre! And another!

2008-04-16T23:37:00.003-10:00

Celle la n'a pas ete facile a faire. Mon pere est decede le 2 Septembre 2006 et je n'avais jamais vraiment fait de page en son honneur. Toujours mon cours a la rescousse si on veut bien: un des exercices etaient de finir un projet qu'on avait remis au lendemain! Voici donc mon projet. C'est tres different de ce que je fais generalement mais c'est sorti comme ca. La photo de moi a ete prise tres peu apres le deces de papa.

This one was not easy to make. My dad died September 2nd, 2006 and I had yet to make a page to honor him. Part of my scrapbooking course included an "intention challenge" in which you had to decide on a project you had been procrastinating on and you had one month to finally complete it. This was my project. It came out very different from anything I've done so far but that is how it evolved as I played with it. The photo of me was a self portrait taken not long after my dad's death. When my dad was sick, I would obviously worry about the day I'd get the phone call to tell me he was gone. I remember looking at myself in my bathroom mirror one day and having this epiphany: My dad could not die, as long as I live. He is part of me, down to my genes. I have the same hair, the same eyes, the skin complexion. I have so many of the same personality traits. This was very comforting and even after his passing this belief has helped me. I set up the self portrait to emphasize the similarities between us. I think of the soundtrack song for the "Lion King": He lives in Me. It is so true.

Layout Credits:
Background paper: pamlefordesigns\pld_autumnrhapsody_pp_freebie
Glitter overlay: Amanda Sok, scrapgirls.com
Chipboard Heart: petitsmoineaux.blogspot.com,douceur enivrante
Font: CK_Ali_Edwards.
Background font is my father’s handwriting scanned from a letter.

Et une autre page! Another Layout!

2008-04-14T22:05:00.002-10:00

C'est dur de me retenir. Le cours que je suis est vraiment trop cool. Voici la derniere page en date qu'on a appris a faire.

Hard to contain my excitement. This digital scrapbooking class is amazing. This is the last Layout we had to make for our third week of class. Pretty cool, huh?

Layout credits:
Brown alphas, scalloped circle, heart sticker, right hand page design: Jessica Sprague
Left hand page design: My own
Notebook paper, fabric tab, Brush, frame: Katie Pertiet
Grunge brush for background paper: 15scratchsplatgrungebrushes_by_jonas013
Heart pin: Leora_ApronStrings2_heartpin
Glitter Frame: Amanda Sok, scrapgirls.com
Font: VTPortableRemington

Published!

2008-04-11T20:20:00.005-10:00

I had 2 layouts featured on Erin Lincoln's blog at Creating Keepsakes magazine website (one of the major scrapbooking magazines!).

This one, I made yesterday from scratch. I created the template and then made the page while Burton was teaching. (I couldn't train because I just had a tooth extracted).
It's the second line in her post: "Idea for pregnancy page: flank an ultrasound photo with individual shots of mom and dad."

LO Credits:

All patterned papers: littledreamerdesigns\LisaHabisreutinger_Week4 designer challenge freebie
Create stamp: \KPertiet_StampedMoments
Fonts: CK_AliEdwards (title and jounaling), Alfredo Heavy outline(title)Arial (date stamp.
Photos sent to me by my friend Kristin.

This one is under "the colors are stunning" link and she added "Make sure you read the journaling".

Credits for this LO:
All elements by Susan Hobbs at heart2heartdesigns.com
Page template: Layered Sketch template 17
Background paper: Texture pastels pack
Papers in title tiles: Springtime Grunge pack
Photo treatment tutorial: kimikreations.blogspot.com
Font: Arial

This is so exciting!I'm thrilled. Aloha!

Avant, maintenant! Then and Now!

2008-04-08T16:10:00.009-10:00

Pour mon cours de scrapbooking, on a appris a "joindre" deux photos et j'ai choisi ces deux la. La premiere a ete prise lors du deuxieme sejour de Burton a La Reunion en Octobre 97. C'est une photo qui est encadree depuis bien longtemps chez nous. Du coup, l'annee derniere quand je suis passee devant un magasin a St-Gilles qui vendait le meme petit haut que je portais en 97, je n'ai pas hesite et je l'ai achete. Hier, Burton et moi avons fait un petit voyage dans le temps et voici le resultat. On vieillit plutot bien. Je dirai meme plus, on rajeunit plutot bien.

This was my assignment for week 2 of my digital scrapbooking class. The photo on the left is one that we have had framed at home for a while now. Last year, when I was in Reunion, I found the very same top I was wearing then and bought it. Yesterday, we set up a photo shoot to match. It's pretty spooky to look at!

Une petite danse! A little dance!

2008-04-05T21:07:00.004-10:00

Mon anniversaire c'etait le 29 mais comme Burton n'etait pas la, on a fete de nouveau ensemble aujourd'hui. On a passe une tres bonne journee et on s'est regarde "la grande vadrouille" avec Louis de Funes et Bourville pour bien se detendre ce soir. Et puis, Burton m'a fait un gateau (qui n'est pas vraiment sorti comme il l'aurait voulu mais c'est l'intention qui compte!). Et me voici, en pleine forme a 32 ans et une semaine. Petit spectacle impromptu au rythme d'une chanson envoyee par e-mail par un ami de la famille (tonton Ibrahim Sadar pour ceux qui connaissent!). Rien de tel qu'un bon petit sega pour feter son anniversaire.
Riez bien lorsque vous verrez ma tete a la fin (malheureusement Burton n'a pas choisi le meilleur moment pour arreter de filmer!)

My birthday was last week but since Burton was away on a trip, we celebrated together today. We had a wonderful day and enjoyed a nice funny french movie this evening. Burton even made me a birthday cake (carob tofu pie!). He attempted to write "Happy birthday" with "icing" made from protein powder and it all melted down and didn't quite turn out the way he wanted! Here I am at 32 and 1 week and dancing to a nice Reunion island birthday song (that a family friend sent me last week). Enjoy the show! and try not to laugh too hard when you see my face on the last frozen frame(Burton didn't pick the most flattering spot to stop filming!)

2008-04-02T23:56:00.002-10:00

J'ai apercu cette photo en telechargeant toutes mes photos de Mai 2007 sur le net (pour une sauvegarde de plus, juste au cas ou...). J'etais a La Reunion a un restau aux Roches Noires et j'ai essaye les lunettes de ma soeur, Sabrina. Elles me vont bien non?
Photo: Mai 2007

This photo caught my eye as I was uploading yet another batch to my online back up. This was taken in Reunion Island. I was having dinner with my sister and some friends and I tried on her glasses. I kind of like it!
Photo: May 2007

Scrapbooking 03.08

2008-03-31T23:13:00.001-10:00

Mon mari! My husband!

2008-03-30T20:27:00.007-10:00

Burton m'a appelee aujourd'hui et m'a raconte qu'au milieu d'une conversation hier, il a dit a cette personne: "Je n'aurais pu souhaiter meilleure epouse que Sarah". C'est merveilleux qu'il pense ca et touchant qu'il me le dise. Maintenant, il faut que je sois a la hauteur! :-)
Autoportrait Fev.08

Burton called me today and recounted that yesterday he told someone that "Sarah is the best wife he could ever have hoped for. " How wonderful for him to feel that way. How wonderful that he shared this with me.
Now I have to live up to this! :-)
Self Portrait, Feb.08

Joyeux anniversaire! Happy Birthday to me!

2008-03-29T17:23:00.006-10:00

Moi, a 32 ans (et avec l'aide de Photoshop!)

Me at 32 (and a little help from Photoshop!)

Enfin, completement bien dans ma tete, bien dans ma peau.
Finally letting go. Just feeling good!

Voyage.Allergies,Bebes,etc! Trip. Allergies,Babies,etc!

2008-03-26T21:45:00.006-10:00

Ca fait un petit moment que je n'ai pas ecrit. A part le fait qu'on est tres occupes, je n'avais pas d'energie a revendre cette semaine. Ca fait pres de 10 jours que j'ai des crises d'allergies non stop. Ca veut dire que je passe la moitie de mes nuits sur le canape a essayer de "deboucher" mon nez. Ca doit etre le printemps qui arrive et un certain pollen dans l'air qui ne me convient pas. En tous cas, apres une semaine, j'ai commence a ressentir les effets du manque de sommeil et ca commence a bien faire!
Pour couronner le tout, Burton s'apprete a partir en voyage demain matin. Destination: Chicago (ou il neige en ce moment!) pour donner un stage et pour participer a une conference pour la police. Il revient dans une semaine (eh oui, il ne sera pas la pour mon anniversaire le 29!). J'ai de quoi m'occuper (un album a faire pour ma copine qui vient d'apprendre qu'elle attend des jumeaux et un nouveau cours sur internet pour mon scrapbooking) mais qu'est ce qu'il va me manquer!

Sorry I haven't written in a while. I have been very busy with work but what's doing it is that I've been suffering from allergies for almost two weeks now. I spend half of my nights upright on the couch to clear my nose. I think Spring is in the air and lots of pollen with it! I'm certainly looking forward to a full night's sleep some time soon as I'm starting to feel the lack of it. It's not helping that Burton is leaving on a trip to Chicago tomorrow morning (I don't sleep any better when he's away!). He'll be teaching a seminar and he'll attend a Law Enforcement conference so we can make some contacts. He'll be gone only one week and no, will not be here for my birthday on the 29th (which means I get to celebrate once with my girlfriends and once with him-gotta see the positive!). I've got a scrapbooking project to work on (my girflfriend just found out she's expecting twins and I'm making her an album) and my advanced digital scrapbooking class starts on Monday so I'll be busy but I certainly am gonna miss him.

More Ice Cream funny!

2008-03-21T00:10:00.003-10:00

With all the talk about ice cream, I guess my brain has suffered from mild hypnosis.Last night I woke up with super itchy eyes. They were burning so much that I actually could not open them for a few seconds. I went to grab an ice cube in the freezer to rub on them which usually relieves the itchiness and redness. It did work. After that, I went back to the freezer, grabbed a tub of Soy Delicious Mint Marble Fudge and a spoon, went back to the bathroom, sat on the closed toilet seat, grabbed a book and enjoyed eating my ice cream. Now the reason why I did this in the bathroom is not that I am a complete lunatic. It's just that this is our only room with a door at home (everything else is big loft-life space- well not THAT big!) and I didn't want to wake up Burton with the light! Definitely an eventful night! Good thing I got to wake up at 10 am!

Ice Cream Flavors.

2008-03-19T09:24:00.003-10:00

So there is a quizz you can take here to figure out what ice cream flavor you are.
I am : Mint chocolate chip ice cream wakes up people's taste buds, and you do the same thing when you walk into a room. The chocolatey bits represent your sweet, flirtatious side, and the minty flavor represents your high energy level. You are smart, witty, and you make a great first impression. Your friends value your advice, because you tend to see things from a fresh new perspective.

I found this on a fellow blogger's site and wrote to her the following: "I like rich chocolate ice cream best. coffee, strawberry and peanut butter would be my least favorites. I like sorbets a lot as well (mango!).

Later that evening I tell Burton about it and our conversation goes as follows:
Sarah:" I told her, I liked chocolate best and coffee, strawberry, and peanut butter are my least favorite ones"
Burton: jumps, eyes real big...
Sarah:"Whaaaaat?"
Burton: "there is no such thing as peanut butter ice cream!"
Sarah and Burton start laughing real hard.
Sarah: "Oh my God! I do think I've seen it at the store, but you know what... even if it does exist, I've NEVER HAD peanut butter ice cream!!! I've never even tasted it, and I wrote it was my least favorite ice cream!!!!
By then, we're both crying laughing. It was just such an odd and funny thing.

Un an deja! One year!

2008-03-14T23:17:00.001-10:00

Ca fait un an deja que j'ai mon "blog". Et j'ai decide de recompenser la lectrice qui laisse le plus de commentaires: Karistamps! Je vais lui envoyer quelques livres de scrapbooking puisque c'est comme ca qu'on se connait, sur un site de scrapbooking numerique.

I've been a blogger for one year now! ONE YEAR! So awesome. I've really enjoyed the experience and am looking forward to another year. To celebrate, I'd like to keep with the trend of doing a giveaway, except I am going to choose the recipient myself (It was actually Burton's idea!). Karistamps is the winner of my giveaway as the most active commenter here.
Kari you can pick one of these idea books (I'm done reading them and hope you can enjoy them):

Designing with words by Autumn Leaves

Tags Reivented by Erikia Ghumm, Memory Makers Deluxe Techniques by Katherine Brooks, Deluxe Techniques 52 Scrapbooking challenges by Elsie Flannigan, Creating Keepsakes Scrapbooking made easy, Simple Scrapbooks.

Actually, go ahead and give me the list including each one you'd like in order of preference. I might be able to fit more than one in the envelope! If you have all of these, let me know and I'll figure out another prize. Thanks for always being a regular over here. Aloha, Sarah

Ma mere! My mother!

2008-03-14T23:07:00.002-10:00

Je n'avais jusqu'a maintenant pas encore publie de photos de ma mere. J'ai enfin pu scanner l'une de mes preferees! Ma mere s'appelle Reine Blanche, mais on l'appelle Reine. J'aime beaucoup son prenom! Et comme Sarah, ca veut dire Princesse en hebreu, si je ne m'abuse, c'est vraiment une heureuse coincidence.
PS: Bisous maman.
Photo prise a la Saline les Bains, a La Reunion.

I hadn't posted any photos of my mom up to now but was finally able to scan one of my favorites. My mom's first name litterally translates to: White Queen, and everyone just calls her Queen. I really like her name. And since Sarah is supposed to mean Princess in some language (Hebreu?), then it's all the more fitting!
Photo taken on the beach in Reunion Island.

2008-03-13T23:44:00.005-10:00

Burton, recounting a story: "One time, I went to a province in the northern Philippines. Way up in the north, like a 6-hour drive from Manila"
Sarah interrupts: "Oh, so about 100 yards away!"
Burton and Sarah laugh real hard.

Ok, so you probably won't get how funny this is, unless you've been in Manila and you've experienced the traffic jams there. Seriously it takes forever to go anywhere, pretty much at anytime of the day. It can take one hour to go just a couple of miles! We spent a lot of time there in 2006 and 2007 to make a feature film.
This is actually one of my best jokes ever. Had to write it down as to not forget.

2008-03-07T21:16:00.002-10:00

Burton: "Honey, you know how there are African Americans, Mexican Americans, etc...? Well, I was thinking... If I moved to New Delhi in India, would I be an American Indian?"

yep, that's my Burton. Always wisecracking.

Scrapbook pages 02/2008

2008-02-28T13:10:00.001-10:00

Official Creative Team announcement!

2008-02-28T13:01:00.003-10:00

This is what Susan Hobbs of heart2heartdesigns posted on the forum of digishoptalk.com on 02/18/08! It's official. I'm in. Sarah974 is my userid name at DST, creating keepsakes and simple scrapbooks photo galleries. I go by Sarah at JessicaSprague.com. 974 is the state number for Reunion Island.
I am so happy to be a CT member. I've already made the 3 LOs for the month of Feb and I have learned a lot. It's especially nice to play with new products and I won't say it enough: Susan's drag and drop templates are awesome!

Great body butter!

2008-02-28T10:46:00.002-10:00

I've been meaning to share this with you for a while now. I found these soaps and body butter at Borders of all places and couldn't resist.
The brand is PACIFICA. I especially like the Tahitian Gardenia line and the Waikiki Pikake line.
You can find most of the products at Amazon here.
I cannot wear perfume. It gives me a headache and makes me sneeze so I resort to body butters to smell good! Those are awesome. They smell really natural (though the scent might be too strong for some of you) and it really feels like a vacation to put this on. Enjoy!
As always with thick body butters, it is best to not completely dry your skin before applying. It will slide more smoothly and absorb better if you skin is still humid from the shower.
Photo from Amazon.com

Nouvelle entete! New blogheader!

2008-02-24T20:13:00.003-10:00

Je suis de celles qui aiment le changement. J'adore changer de shampoing, de dentifrice, de gel douche. J'ai besoin de variete et c'en est de meme avec mon blog. Alors il etait temps de modifier mon entete. Je vais sans doute faire un roulement entre differents designs. Celui ci me plait vraiment bien. Qu'est ce que vous en pensez?

I like change at least when it comes to everyday little things: toothpaste and shampoos and shower gels and such... I don't do well with the Costco size of anything because I get bored really fast so I usually rotate between different products. This habit has spilled over to my blog maintenance and it seems I need a new blogheader every once in a while. Made this one today. Definitely makes me smile.

Credits:
Background paper: digitreats.typepad.com, Run kitorange
heart circle: from paper by littledreamerdesigns, VintageDreams-Retro
White and Blue paper: Meredith Fenwick, Ray of light paper
Circle template: Susan Hobbs, heart2heartdesings
Fonts: Circle: Arial, Title: CK Becky
Photos at Simpsonizeme.com

Aeryk a 6 ans! Aeryk is 6!

2008-02-24T20:00:00.000-10:00

Mon filleul a eu 6 ans le 28 Janvier et la famille a fete ca aujourd'hui. Que le temps passe.

My godson turned 6 years old on January 28th and his birthday party was today.

Scrapbook!

2008-02-19T22:42:00.006-10:00

Je viens de finir une autre page. Je change un peu ma facon de faire et j'ai rajoute un lien en haut a droite: "toutes mes pages sont aussi ici". J'ai commence une gallerie internet sur un site de scrapbooking ou vous pouvez voir toutes mes pages. Je ne peux telecharger que 5 pages/jour donc ca va me prendre un petit peu de temps pour completer avec toutes les pages que j'ai faites jusqu'a maintenant (que vous avez deja vues ici) mais j'y mets les plus recentes en priorite. J'essaierai de continuer a faire mes montages a la fin de chaque mois sur le blog mais si vous voulez voir les pages individuellement et de plus pres, cliquez sur le lien mentionne ci dessus.
Vous pouvez voir la toute derniere page en date ici.

I just finished another page. I kind of changed the way I'm going to do things. I added a link at the top right of the screen: "all of my pages are also here". I just started an online gallery at one of the main scrapbooking sites where I'll be storing all of my layouts. I can only upload 5 layouts/day so it will take some time to update with all of my past layouts (but you've seen those here). I will be uploading the most recently done pages first.
I'll still do my best to post slide shows of my Layouts on a monthly basis but if you want to see them bigger and clearer, go to that link mentioned above. Here is the Layout I made today.
Credits:
Elements by Heart 2 Heart Designs
Page template: LST 80007 template freebie
Background paper, round tag: Tropical page kit freebie
Accent patterned paper: Sunflower background paper
Other elements: pin: raspberryroaddesigns.blogspot.com, Summer_Chic kit
Title font: Sybil green (overly blend mode)
Date stamp: Mom’s typewriter
PSE 5.0

First Layout as a Creative Team member!

2008-02-18T20:57:00.007-10:00

Ok, je fais d'une pierre deux coups. Tout d'abord j'ai pu aller voir le groupe Police en concert Samedi dernier et c'etait trop cool. J'etais en plein milieu juste devant le podium: 16e rang. Tres pres. Je pouvais tres bien voir Sting et c'etait trop cool.
L'autre nouvelle c'est que je viens d'etre acceptee par une compagnie de scrapbooking pour mettre en avant leurs produits en les utilisant sur mes pages. J'ai acces aux produits gratuitement et en echange je fais un certain nombre de pages par mois a mettre sur mon blog et sur d'autres sites de scrapbooking. J'avais envoye ma demande Samedi et j'ai eu leur reponse Dimanche! C'est un contrat de 3 mois. Voici la 1ere page que j'ai faite.

Killing 2 birds with one post. First, as you can see, Burton and I went to see The Police in concert here last Saturday. Awesome! We were in the middle floor section just in front of the stage: row 16, seat 16 and Saturday was February 16th! Coincidence?!!! Sting's microphone was set up right in front of us so we had an awesome time watching and listening!
The other news is that I was just accepted as a Creative Team member for heart2heart designs.
Most designers of scrapbooking elements choose a few people to build a creative team so that they have enough layouts to feature and promote their products. I had sent my application on Saturday and got the OK on Sunday! Really cool. This is the firt Layout I did for this company.

Design elements from heart2heartdesigns.com
Page template: lazy days template 5 12x12 slightly modified on page left, unchanged on page right
Background paper: aged paper II pack (exclusion blend mode)
Brushes: Oodles of circles set
Others:
Pin: scrapartist.com, zazou avec amour kit.
PSE 5.0

Escapade! Getaway!

2008-02-15T11:11:00.010-10:00

Burton et moi avons passe quelques jours sur la cote Nord du 10 au 13 Fevrier. On a loue une villa sur la plage. Apres des semaines de pluie, on a eu un temps magnifique. Ca nous a fait un bien fou. Pas de telephone. Pas d'ordinateur. Pas de travail. Je me suis lu un bon bouquin. On a nage. Promenades sur la plage. On a super bronze. J'essaierai de telecharger une video plus tard. Voici quelques photos en attendant.

Burton and I spent a few days on the North Shore of Oahu (Feb 10 to 13). We rented a beachhouse. After weeks of rain, we finally had sun. The weather was great and we had so much fun. Cell phones were off. No computers. No work. I finally had time to read a book. We swam a lot along side the turtles. We had nice walks on the beach. I am so tanned! I'll try to upload some video later but for now here are a few photos.
la vue de la maison.
the view from the beachhouse.

la plage devant la maison.
the beach in front of the house.

Une autre plage sur le chemin du retour.
Another great beach park on our way back home.

Superbe coucher du soleil le premier jour.
Awesome sunset on our first day.

La vue, du jardin le soir.
Our view hanging out in the yard at night.

Saint Valentin! Valentine's day!

2008-02-14T11:03:00.003-10:00

J'ai eu droit a une jolie carte par e-mail mais mon mari a prefere me donner un "chapati" (sorte de crepe indienne) en forme de coeur plutot que des chocolats! Je lui avais demande de m'en faire cuire une pour accompagner mon diner et voila, le romantique qu'il est, n'a pas pu s'empecher! Trop mignon.

I did get a very nice e-card but instead of chocolate hearts, I got a "chapati" heart (indian flat bread). I had asked him to make me one to eat with dinner and he couldn't resist being his usual romantic self! So sweet!

Mon amie! My Friend!

2008-02-10T09:37:00.001-10:00

Demain, le 11 Fevrier c'est l'anniversaire de mon amie, Sandrine Caro. Sandrine est une jeune femme merveilleuse. Ca a ete quasiment le coup de foudre entre nous depuis notre premiere rencontre il y a deja 11 ans. Elle me comprend. Elle m'accepte comme je suis. Elle est toujours la malgre la distance. Elle a meme fait le voyage depuis la Reunion jusqu'a Hawaii pour venir me voir. Sandrine et moi, c'est jusqu'a la mort nous separe, et meme ca, je suis pas sure que ca nous arrete...
Merci Sandrine d'etre dans ma vie. Joyeux anniversaire ma puce.

Tomorrow, February 11th is my good friend Sandrine Caro's birthday. Sandrine is a wonderful yound lady. It was love at first sight between us when we first met eleven years ago. She gets me. She takes me as is. She's there for me despite the distance between us. She even made the trip to Hawaii from Reunion to visit me. Between Sandrine and I, it's 'til death do us part and even that probably won't stop us...

Thanks Sandrine for being in my life.
Happy birthday sweetie.

Petit Dejeuner! Breakfast!

2008-02-10T09:00:00.000-10:00

Petit dejeuner tres equilibre. Sans commentaires...

Very balanced breakfast. I think I hit all of the food groups...

Un petit miracle! A little miracle!

2008-02-07T15:24:00.002-10:00

Ceux d'entre vous qui vivent a La Reunion ne comprendront sans doute pas l'ampleur mais ceux d'entre vous qui ne vivent plus a La Reunion saurons exactement ce que cet evenement represente dans ma vie. J'ai trouve une petite epicerie indienne qui vend des samoussas surgeles qui sont exactement comme ceux qu'on trouve chez nous! Ici aux Etats Unis, si on va dans un restau indien, ils vendent tous des samoussas mais ils ne sont pas du tout comme les notres. La pate est differente et ils sont generalement deux a trois fois plus gros. Comme vous le voyez sur la photo, ceux la sont exactement comme je les aime: croustillants, bien epices, a manger en une ou deux bouchees. Les plus petits sont aux legumes (pommes de terre, petits pois), les plus gros sont aux granules de soja simulant du boeuf hache. On dira que pour moi, c'est encore mieux qu'a La Reunion car les samoussas aux granule de soja, je crois pas pouvoir trouver ca a la boutique chinois! Ca fait quelques Dimanches que je me regale d'une petite douzaine, avec un peu de piment la pate sur le cote. Ahhhh. Un petit miracle que je compte savourer tres regulierement.

Those of you who have been at an indian restaurant probably have heard of samossas, maybe even tasted them. In Reunion, samossas (which we call samoussas) are to be found at most street corners. This is the number one snack there and we have them in all flavors. It all started with ground beef and chicken, then veggies, cheese and nowadays they make 'em sweet too. The key to a good samoussas besides the filling is the wrapper. The ones at the indian restaurants are made pretty big with a pastry like dough and come out with a flaky crust. The ones in Reunion are bite sized with a very thin wrapper so that it is crispy when fried. If you're lucky enough to find already made wrappers, then there is the other obstacle of folding them properly to form the little heavenly triangles. I tried a few times and let's just say I didn't have much patience for the task.
So to me it was a little miracle to find Reunion Island style samossas at the indian grocery store I shop at sometimes. It's like a trip down memory lane with each bite. And my luck goes even farther since they not only carry veggie samossas with potato and peas filling but also some with a soy granules filling that simulates the ground beef texture. Now, that's something you can't find in Reunion and for us non-meat eaters, well it's just awesome. I've been enjoying a dozen every Sunday with a side of chili peppers of course and I plan on savoring my little miracle for a long long time.

Que faire le Dimanche? What to do on Sundays?

2008-02-03T14:54:00.001-10:00

Aujourd'hui Dimanche, la journee a commence tout doucement. Bon petit dejeuner. On s'est regarde un petit documentaire et puis je me suis remise au lit. La lumiere etait belle et j'ai demande a Burton de m'amener mon appareil photo histoire de faire une petite seance d'autoportraits devant mon miroir. On dira que Burton s'est senti delaisse et a decide de participer a la seance, d'une facon un peu inattendue.... (voir Burton's fun ci dessous).
Du coup on s'est tellement amuses, que je n'ai pu resister a la tentation de faire de meme. (voir Sarah's fun ci dessous). Malheureusement je ne suis pas aussi bonne cascadeuse que lui et je suis tombe directement sur ses cotes! Aie!

Today's Sunday. Superbowl Sunday! The day started with a nice breakfast, a little DVD watching and lazily going back to bed. The light was beautiful near the bed and I asked Burton to bring me my camera for a little self portrait session in front of the mirror. I think Burton didn't want to stay on the sideline so he decided to join in in his own unexpected way! (see Burton's fun slide show below).
We had so much fun and laughed so hard that I couldn't resist the temptation to go for a few jumps myself. (see Sarah's fun slide show below). Please note that my head completely jammed Burton's side when I fell on the bed. Oups!

Burton's fun!

2008-02-03T14:49:00.002-10:00

Sarah's fun!

2008-02-03T14:49:00.001-10:00

et un autre! and another one!

2008-01-28T21:02:00.000-10:00

C'est la saga des anniversaires. Aujourd'hui c'est celui de mon filleul, Aeryk qui a 6 ans.
Photo prise lors de son anniversaire l'annee derniere.

One birthday after another. Today is my Godson's birthday. Aeryk just turned 6 years old.
Photo taken at his birthday party last year.

Un autre anniversaire! Another birthday!

2008-01-27T22:18:00.000-10:00

Aujourd'hui c'est l'anniversaire de mon petit frere, Rechad. On a le meme papa mais pas la meme maman et seulement 10 petits mois nous separent... Depuis qu'on est enfants, c'est mon petit tresor. (plus si petit que ca maintenant!)
Photo prise a La Reunion, Mai 2007.

Today is my little brother's, Rechad, birthday. We share the same dad but not the same mom and he's just 10 months younger than me...Since we've been kids, he's been my little baby. (not so little any more!)
Photo taken in Reunion island, May 2007.

Joyeux anniversaire Kendra! Happy birthday Kendra!

2008-01-24T10:04:00.000-10:00

Aujourd'hui, la fille de ma copine, Vickie, fete son premier anniversaire. Depuis qu'elle est nee, je prends des photos d'elles tous les mois. Voici un apercu de sa croissance! f

Today is Kendra's very first birthday. Kendra is my friend Vickie's daugther. I've been taking photos of her since she was born. Every month, a photo shoot. This is the result!

Miracle de la nature! Miracle of nature!

2008-01-23T21:25:00.000-10:00

La soeur ainee de Burton, Avalon, nous a envoye cette plante comme cadeau de Noel. Burton s'en est occupe pendant a peu pres 6 semaines et nous avons pu etre temoins d'un miracle de la nature. Moi qui suit une "fille de la ville", je n'ai jamais rien plante, je n'ai jamais vraiment vu quelque chose pousser devant mes yeux. On va dire que je n'ai pas la main verte. Ca ete vraiment un tres beau cadeau dont on a pu profite jour apres jour. La plante a fleuri il y a quelques jours. J'espere qu'elles dureront car j'adore les admirer. Quel beau cadeau!

Burton's sister, Avalon, sent us this "ready to grow" plant as a Christmas gift. Burton has been taking care of it for the past 6 weeks and we have since been witnessing a miracle of nature. I'm a "city girl" and I've never ever planted or grown anything. You can say, I definitely don't have a green thumb. It was truly a great gift; one we have enjoyed day after day. The plant bloomed just a few days ago and I sure hope the flowers will last a while. I so enjoy looking at them every day. Beautiful gift. Thank you, Avalon.

More photos.

2008-01-23T21:22:00.001-10:00

I've been tagged!

2008-01-19T14:29:00.000-10:00

I was tagged by Dawn on the message board of jessicasprague.com to list 7 random/weird facts about myself. Here it is:

1) I got my very first piggy bank last christmas. I had always wanted one and could not because I grew up in a muslim household and well...
...a pig in the house, that wasn't an option!

2)I will swim in very cold freshwater (waterfalls, rivers, etc...) but I will not swim in cold ocean water. I love waterfalls, used to go to them all the times as a teenager. Hike barefoot. Jump from the top! Awesome.

3)I was nicknamed "grumpy smurph" by my girlfriend in highschool.

4)Only after I got married, (just shy of 22), did I own my first computer. I learned how to type. I discovered the internet and got my first e-mail account (still using the same one).
Other changes that came with my marriage: lived in a new country, spoke a new language, left family and friends behind, quit smoking, stopped eating meat, started martial arts training and traveled to a different state every weekend. When you write it down like this, it sounds kind of crazy!

5) I've lived in Reunion island (raised and born there), in Berchtesgaden/Germany, in Montpellier/France, in Los Angeles/California and in Honolulu/Hawaii.

6)when I was around 8 or 9 years old (speaking French as my first language), my mom signed me up for an English class and we had to choose an english name and I chose: Jennifer.

7) Growing up I really wanted to break a bone (preferrably my arm) to have it put in a cast and have everyone sign it. I'm glad that wish didn't come true!

Ma Soeur! My sister!

2008-01-18T21:21:00.000-10:00

Je n'arrete pas ce soir. Ma soeur, Sabrina, vient de m'appeler. Alors je me suis dit que c'etait l'occasion de vous la presenter officiellement sur mon blog (pour ceux qui n'ont jamais eu cette chance ou qui ne l'ont pas vue depuis longtemps).
Photo prise lors de mon dernier sejour en Mai 07.
Qu'est ce qu'elle est belle hein? Pour ceux qui n'arrivent pas a deviner,c'est ma grande soeur!

I'm on a roll tonight! My sister, Sabrina just called me. So I figured I would introduce her officially on my blog (for those of you who've never met her or for those who have not seen her in a while).
Photo taken during my last trip in May 07.
Beautiful, isn't she? And yes, she's my big sister, even though it's hard to tell just by looking at her!