Seriously worried

That's it...I'm now scared of walking in my own neighborhood.

A few days ago, an 18 years old girl was waiting for the bus. Somehow, she got pulled into a car, taken a few miles away, raped, and brought back where she was in the first place.
This CAN'T happen!
Six o'clock, damnit! The sun is still shining high!
And she was not walking in a dark alley or anything. That street is a rather busy one, but still residential, there are many houses and people around. Beautiful flowers, expensive houses, people walking their dogs, children on bicycles, you get the picture!

What's freaking me the most, is that it happened only one bus stop away from where I take it every night at that time.
I'm scared. I always felt so safe.
I even walked at night sometimes, but that time is over.

I don't know what I can do to feel safer. I feel so vulnerable.

Lush-ious!

Last weekend was the first time I had ever heard of "Lush", or more like the first time I had ever *seen* this boutique. I guess you American readers have it too...we are just a bit behind up here. And this is a big and exciting novelty for this kitchen witch!

Wow, it's a whole new experience, like walking into a wonderfully scented rainbow.


At first, knowing nothing about them, I was convinced that the colorful display of plastic-looking soap bars were of the cheap and synthetic sort. You have to admit that turquoise and fuchsia are not what you'd expect of natural soaps, but more of the shelves of a dollar store.


But the enthusiastic and definitely slightly effeminate clerk nicely explained to me how the products are made from essential oils, natural ingredients like clay and herbs and such. I was beyond excited. And then he told me that all of the soaps and ingredients aren't tested on animals, I was sold.

I'm still in the discovery stage, but I have found a favorite already, and it's this baby:

It's called Reincarnate, and yes, it does look quite disgusting in this picture, but in reality, it's a nice looking piece of reddish mud-colored shampoo-bar. It smells of many kinds of spices, orange and some other yummy exotic stuff, and best of all, Red Persian Henna, which supposedly adds reddish tones to dark hair.

I'm new to the concept of solid shampoo, but I love it already, no pesky bottles around the shower anymore. Not only is it great smelling, practical, natural and good for the hair, I realized that I don't even have to put in conditioner after I rinse that off! And this is something I thought I would never even dream of thinking about. Curly hair=vital need for conditioner, can't go without it. So I must conclude that Reincarnate is some kind of magical-does-all hair soap.

The next thing I must investigate is their brand of Henna bars. I'm admittedly a bit put off by how they chose to name the stuff....maybe it's because I'm French, but calling a hair color "Caca Brun mama" or "Caca Noir mama" might be just a bit unappealing....if not revolting.

Victory!

At last, some good news to write about!
I am back from my three weeks summer vacations, and instead of having added the obligatory vacation-ten-pounds, I have actually went down to 133lbs!
I have beat the dreaded 140lbs Plateau! It is gone and behind! And I don't even remember the last time I climbed on the scale and got a number under 140! It's like being in a dream.

I'm still wondering how it's possible....sure, I've been careful about what I eat,walked a lot, but I've not been overly strict...in fact, I've been at my sister's almost half the time, and this is a place of depravation where sugary alcohol flows, and desert is omnipresent, even at breakfast. There were birthdays, I got almost drunk on Sour Puss and Smirnoff Ice and chocolate-cheese cake on a few occasions.

I can only blame the weight lost on emotional stress. Yes, I won't talk about it much on the web, my private diary is there for that.

Very Tempting

So I've been letting my hair grow for the last few months. And for the first time in my life, I didn't actually cut it myself in a bout of frustration after two weeks.

So yeah, it's now pass my shoulders....I'm happy with it.

But it's summer now, and it is HOT outside, and also incredibly humid, and I am going mad with that great curly sheep sitting on my head all day.

I watched the movie Amélie Poulin yesterday, and for a moment, she convinced me to cut my hair ala Amélie. I just adore that cute, fringe-y and funky little cut. And it seems great for hot weather.

I'm hesitating, because first, my hair takes lots of time to grow back....and also, a few people told me that they thought Audrey Tautou's hair was hideous in that movie.

Not that I let others decide on my haircut....but I'd really hate to walk the streets with half the population wondering if I'm whacked in the head...

I don't know how to make a Poll, but maybe you people could help me, don't have to leave a big comment, just YES or NO....I'd like to have a sample of popular opinion.

Tried and true....

It's summer time, so many of us are trying to get in shape.

So, it's my guess that most are now aware of the dreaded word: (cue to dramatic music)--

---PLATEAU---

Yes, you start to loose weight, you are all proud of your progress, you eat right! You walk to work! You run everyday! You do everything you should. You haven't touched a potato chip in weeks. You are almost fitting into your skinny jeans again, and then....PLATEAU.

It can drive you to madness, and it's the time you can get completely discouraged, because you continue to make the efforts, and there are no more results. Steady weight. And I Googled around...it can last up to three weeks.

But why?
Well, our body is pretty clever. It will adjust to whatever we are doing. If we are on a strict diet of 1200 calories a day, and walk everyday the same amount of time (spending the same nbs of calories each day). The body will adjust to that. It says, OK, I'll burn less then, because I know I get that much fuel, and I need that much to function.

It can become a vicious circle, because of course, we could eat even less and spend even more...thus starting to loose weight again, but this will never end, and can eventually be dangerous.

What can we do? I read this pretty logical tip, and it does work.

We need to be smarter then the body.
Never let it fall into a pattern, keep it guessing.
So....say you have a daily diet of 1200-1500 calories. You go a day or two of eating around 1200, and then a day or two more around 1500. You can walk 20 minutes one day, do Yoga another day. Go swimming, run, whatever you like to do. But mix it up.

This also mean you won't feel all guilty to eat a meal at McD's on the weekend, because you know this will be a good start to Monday's reasonable food.
(Be careful though, the higher days could trick you into eating WAY more and badly then you should.)

It DOES work...or you can wait 3 weeks for the damn plateau to go away by itself.

In Defense of Disney

I know that a lot of people today are considering Disney to be a Big-Fat-Money-Making business. And while I agree that most recent movies that came out of there, animated or other were less then spectacular (and that's nicely put)....Disney did came up with little jewels in the past. Hmmm.....maybe I am biased, because it was back in the days when I would be excited to go see one of them at the theater, maybe today's kids will argue that recent ones are great too, anyway.

My point is, some of those movies can define who we grow up to be.

Take the Hunchback of Notre-Dame. I heard all sorts of critics about how it was poorly done. How different from the book it was and how it messed children's culture up.

I'm sorry, but this masterpiece of a movie happened when I was at the age of reading only teeny-boopy magazines, yet it made me hunt down Notre-Dame de Paris, and read that complicated french brick multiple times. It made me watch repertoire movies made years ago.

Hunchback single-handedly developed my passion for drawing, for observation, the details in the decor are phenomenal.

My fascination with medieval music and life, Gothic architecture, Gypsy culture all started there in 1996.

My sense of compassion and acceptance for those who are different...while making me discover the thrills of a true villain who's evilness has nothing to do with sorcery or scary monsters, but real human feelings of jealousy, forbidden desires and religious bigotry.

I mean this movie was really dark in places, for the teen that I was. Murders, dark cathedral walls, witches burnt at the stake, a hero being publicly humiliated, a priest that wants a woman so bad that he's ready to kill, all presented right there in front of me. Opening my mind to the adult world.

It made me who I am today, or it woke it up in me.....

Pocahontas made me research Native Americans, and Hercules had me fascinated with antique Greece for a while. All of those childish movies opened the doors to never ending discoveries.

And I have Disney to thank for that.

*Confession, I DO own the Hunchback of Notre-Dame DVD, it is still my favorite animation and I watch it disturbingly regularly. I'm just ignoring those gargoyles....*

Oh Lucky Day!

People always make a fuss about Friday the 13th....

Strangely, I was never very superstitious, as any self-respecting Kitchen Witch, I have a Black Cat. (Love you, Luna!)

I still remember getting a thrill in elementary school when one of the kids wrote the day's date on the green chalkboard in big scary, gooey letters. And everyone would spend the day being dramatic and saying stuff like "see you later....if I'm still alive!"
Ah, the good days!

But now, like most of the people who read the DaVinci Code, I know where the bad luck day stigma comes from. Jeez, it was one of the points from the novel that stuck the most with me. It was like finally, I saw the light . Big revelation. So that's what all the superstitions are about? Some Knight Templar genocide?

Well we should not be scared anymore!
Let's turn it into a positive day, after all, 13 is kind of a cool number, and god knows we all love Fridays!
So pet a black cat, open an umbrella inside the house, and heck, break a mirror!
Maybe you'll have your luckiest day in months!

Kicking the lazyness away

This time I won't be defeated by my legendary laziness and reluctance when it comes to going out. I mean, it's all good and fun to be a happy introvert who loves her apartment more then any other places, but there are times in life when you just need to kick your ass out of that door and go.

September 7th will be that time.

Yesterday morning, I received an email telling me that Loreena McKennitt will start to tour this Fall. And she is coming to Montreal!! I didn't think twice, because I knew that if I did, I would end up convincing myself that I was better off listening to her CDs at home...

And I still had that big part of me who yelled with excitement that seeing her in concert will be a one in a life time, magical experience and that I would hate myself on September the 8th if I didn't go. So I bought the tickets. There is no turning back, and I am beyond excited and totally on an adrenaline rush. After all, it will be my first show in the "Big city". I don't go to Montreal a lot.

I mean, if I have to assist to one show in my life, it should be Loreena's. She is my muse and inspiration, she wrote my favorite song ever....Oh.....if she sings The Mystic's Dream that night, I will melt, and possibly die too, completely happy and satisfied.

Lily's Facts of Life:

There is only ONE downside to working with children-----
Having to deal with the parents.

*GAAAAAAH!*

Update: I guess I should add with *some* parents. Because most are pretty agreeable to deal with.

Natural Beauty tip no4 (I think)...

Well this one is really simple and cheap, and I never would have believed until I was bored enough to actually try it:

Oatmeal.

Yes, plain and simple oatmeal flakes. The ones you buy when you vow to eat healthy and that are presently sitting unused in the back of your pantry.

Mix a small quantity (say a big Tablespoon) with warm to hot water in a small bowl. Cover the flakes with water completely, you can even put a bit more.
Mix a bit and using your fingers, scoop up the bits of mushy oatmeal and rub all over clean face.

The using your imagination, apply the remaining oatmeal-y liquid to your face, and just keep rubbing lightly, so the skin takes all the goodness in.

You can now proceed to rinse away with warm, then colder water to close the pores.

Be prepared to feel the softess skin ever!

I guess it could be used all over the body, come to think of it.....

Freakishly Amazing!

I love her!
Oh Helena! How I missed you!

And look! My favorite British girl never disappoints. Not only is she a genius actress, she dresses like that to premieres (and from what I've read, pretty much on an every day basis too.)


She totally rocks the Victorian-street-urchin-with-a-killer-sense-of-style look.

Don't know why I love it so much....maybe it's because it's so very refreshing, so different from what you normally see on those famous people.


I mean just look at the hair! That alone is a masterpiece of careful mess! The ribbons sticking out! The picture of unruliness!
The combat boots!!!

And that Oh-SO-COOL dress. I'd bet she did it herself too, because it reminds me a lot of her Pantaloonies collection, with all the bits of antique material and laces...

Oh, I so can't wait to see her as Bellatrix Lestrange.

All Grown up!

Well, time is flying by!

I remember the day I went and saw the first Harry Potter movie like it was yesterday...when those kids were so tiny and cute.

And now some people are starting to call them hotties!

I can't wait to see the fifth movie...look at those kids! The girl they picked for Luna Lovegood is all kinds of awesome. I would never have the balls to dress like that for a big movie premiere. But there she is, looking all proud and happy in those baggy pants and shoes. I wonder if this is all her real hair....If so, I am disgustingly jealous.

Emma is looking like a lady! Wow! Love the dress! Great color (olive green, my favorite), great cut!

I know some people are going to hate me...but....hmmm, I can't understand all the drooling going on for the boys....I mean, Ron has his charms, red hair is hot, pretty sleepy eyes, humor....but Harry? I honestly don't see it....

Celebrity Anagrams...

Yep, I was bored...but some of those are eeeeerie....

Alanis Morissette------It's nasal, tiresome. (I would have to disagree!)
Christina Aguilera -----Agile haircuts rain
Angelina Jolie----------I join anal glee (*coughcough*)
Britney Spears---------Best PR in years (lol)
Tom Cruise------------I'm so cuter
Tori Amos-------------I'm a torso (This is just so random, I couldn't stop laughing!lol)
Paul Bettany-----------Beauty! Plant (I'd say: Beauty. Man.)
Helena Bonham Carter-No real charm beneath?
Ewan McGregor--------Now. Grace germ
Nicole Kidman---------A demonic link (I knew it!!lol)
Paris Hilton------------In his patrol (Hmmmmm....)
Kate Winslet-----------New tits leak (woah!lol)
Justin Timberlake-----I'm a jerk, but listen (Bwa-hahahaha!)
Nelly Furtado---------Artfully done (100% agree!)
Marylin Monroe------In lore, my Norma (Wasn't her real name Norma???)
Marylin Manson------Many sin normal
Pamela Anderson-----Darn a-ample ones (Well darn!!lol)

Anagrams

Since I read The Da Vinci Code, I've been fascinated by anagrams. But unlike Sophie Neveu and Robert Langdon, I am no good at creating or resolving them.

Then I found this site:
http://www.anagramgenius.com/server.html

Turns out that my name (Liliane Grenier) is a perfect anagram for Linear Lingerie. How cool. I'm having difficulty to imagine what *that* would look like, but the idea sounds cool enough. I would no doubt buy Linear Lingerie....

Liliane-Nail lie (!) Hmmm, cryptic!

Hours of fun await.....

In the Springtime of the Year....

Just wanted to share a pretty picture I found today....

It's the kid at our daycare, welcoming Spring and dancing around the Maypole on Beltane.

Aren't they adorable? I hope they will remember the fun and keep up celebrating the changes of season when they are older.

Faces are blurred for Internet safety, of course. (But they are all smiles under that!)

A new project

Well, it's not breaking news, but I'm tired of seeing that picture of my hair when I check out my blog....
And, wow, it's practically been half a moon that I didn't write an entry! (Thank you, Current Moon Phase Indicator!)

Well, what's new? I got a little drawing job-ette. Which is very cool, I'm going to decorate some blackboard menus for an ice-cream shop. Gelato, Smoothies....how fun!

Also, I'm trying to avoid my gentle stalker at all costs. I think I'm doing well, he hasn't been able to talk to me again....and spying on me is kept at a minimal, because I try to not stand where I can be clearly seen by him. Yeah, he is still sitting on his balcony, looking in my general direction. How weird....But I'm hoping he will tire of this little game. I'm a patient women, and it's not like I used to bake myself in the sun anyway.

Cats are feeling nice, but hot.

There is a new movie with Audrey Tautou coming out Friday! I must see it. How I love this actress. She looks and sounds just like a Pixy!

Update 2

Taking a break from freaking about stalker to report on hair's progress with shampoo detox!

Nothing bad to say about it! It's even raining today and hair still looks nice. Excellent!

One thing though...I just learned that I will have to change my beloved Herbal Essence Gel...the company is still making animal tests, and in our modern times, that's not acceptable to me. Will start to hunt for cruelty-free products this afternoon.

Freakage!!!

Well now, I don't like to be alarmist...

But he freaking came running behind me this afternoon when I was walking *with my little brothers* to give me a bouquet of 3 red roses! Holy everything! I just wish I will wake up tomorrow and realise that this is all a freak dream.

I loathe the whole situation to bits. I told him clearly again that there was going to be nothing at all but friendship, and he said he knew, with a kind smile. And I got this sinking feeling in my stomach that sadly, he probably takes this as a challenge.

This is bad Karma...what did I do wrong?

Oh my God! He hit on me!

OKay. That was way strange.

For the very first time ever, a random man hit on me. I'm so not used to that. And I'm so not looking for this.
I was walking towards the little park near where I live, and suddenly, this man appears from nowhere amongst the trees and says hi. He's being polite and I don't get bad vibes, so I chat back, and he asks to walk with me.
Turns out he's the guy living in front of my apartment. I would guess he is about 40. I've seen him play guitar a few times, but that's about it.

Oh my god, he admitted he has been watching me for a long time. And nicely starts to enumerate his qualities as a boyfriend. Says how pretty I am, how he like my hair, etc. Never. In.My.Life. someone came up to me like that. Shit! And I told him I didn't want a boyfriend, but he kept saying that he is different, trying to hold my hand, saying he respects me, even to hug me when we came back around.

I'm slightly freaked now. Hence this post. And even though he seems sincere and non-threatening, I seriously hope I didn't create myself a stalker. There is 0% chance I would go out with him. But I feel like my liberty to go take a walk by myself is now at stake. How will I get out if this? I didn't need this.

May 31th...

Yeah....I've got a special cranky mood that suddenly appears nearing the end of each month.

It's this feeling that my bank account is suddenly bleeding out like crazy.

I spend the whole month putting money in there, and every last day it's the same....Rent, Bills, this stupid Bus Pass that is so godamn expensive. (You know shouldn't they make them cheaper if they want to encourage people to leave their cars at home?) All at the same time.

And then I realize I need batteries to top it all....And it's raining. Have a wonderful freaking day!