La Banquise for their Poutine B.O.M. (Bacon, Onions, and Merguez Sausage) and Cheval Blanc.

Le Cartet for their Brunch De L’Atlantique (Salmon-inspired) and hot chocolate.

Congrats Wendy on your new journey in life! And what a fun shower it was indeed!

2011 brought many changes in my life. I grew and evolved in order to adapt and continue to define the individual that I may not have ever known I would become. The beginning of the year had me standing on a thin line between what I wanted and what I needed. I chose what I needed and gave up the comforts of an eight year comfort zone which was ironically home to more turmoil than stability. I drafted a “bucket-list” (which just keeps growing) and turned to the more literal solution of leaving home and traveling more to fill the gaps that seemed to have been empty for awhile. In doing so, I realized that the gaps were not meant to be filled, but they were meant to be motivators in pushing me forward from a static position.

Somewhere along the walk to finding another safe haven-because it is within our nature to seek protection-the middle of the year offered an opportunity to try my hand at collaborating with two wonderfully amazing and talented individuals on what has now blossomed into VEUX Magazine. I couldn’t fall back into idle mode like I’ve done in the past, so I pushed forward and pursued a project that was not only outside my comfort zone, but made me feel like a fish swimming in a puddle at times (did I mention that I can’t swim?). Since that day, the puddle has become the sea and I’ve found more excitement in venturing outwards than swimming back to land.

Then finally, the last quarter of the year called for a celebration of another kind. The kind that comes every year, on the dot, never missing a mark and can either make or break you. I exaggerate, but who hasn’t felt the pressure and profoundness of turning one year older? Turning 30 is a milestone in my book. At 29, I rolled on the floor kickin’ and screamin’ not wanting to turn older, but hey, who would’ve known that by 30, I embraced it. Who I was at 21 made me realize that at 30, I tried, I made my mistakes, I failed, and I succeeded. If turning 30 didn’t ellicit any questions of my mortality and its purpose, I’d have considered it another year wasted.

So on today, the very last day of 2011, I want to wish you more challenges, more heartbreaks, more trying, and more successes for the year of 2012. I continued to follow my passion for photography this year and found joy and love in engagements, weddings, births, and traveling. However, there are no pictures to accompany this entry. I simply want to tell you that you make your own photographs that no one else will ever be able to capture like you will. Make 2012 your year for capturing more memories that will help you to grow and evolve.

We stopped off at Pure Spirits Oyster Bar to have a late lunch and then ventured through the nooks and crannies of the cobble-stone paved paths for some more yummy munching. The mulled wine definitely made my day. I have GOT to find the recipe to this! Winter up here is 4 months so that means 4 months of mulled wine! Woohoo! And even more delightful was finding the Chocolate Covered Bacon and Maple Syrup Cones. I was on a sugar high from that point on.

6 more days till we ring in the New Year! I truly hope you’ve all had a great 359 days and may the last 6 days of 2011 be crazy rockin’ with fun!

Happy Holidays Everyone! Make it a joyous and fun one!

My friends, Yang and Hopan, were absolutely fab hosts and guides. Not one single meal was disappointing and their hospitality would put any 5 star hotel to shame. Of course, I lived with Yang in university and her now-husband was over often quite a lot back then, so staying with them was a nice journey down memory lane. Thanks so much for all the amazing things – big and small – you both did while I was there.

I won’t bore you with the details. Let’s go straight to the pictures. But of course for those of you who like a good read, take a look at this month’s issue of Veux Mag for my article on “The Life Down Under” on pages 36-39. I promise you’ll be wantin’ to book that ticket to Aussie for this winter holiday.