I was going through pictures of me 10 years ago, this weekend. First, I was probably 25 lbs heavier. Second, I was apparently smoking like a chimney. I had zero sense of style and bad taste in jewelry (hello black chocker…) I was happy though. I’m laughing and dancing and being silly on most photos…

But I like the person I am now so much more. What allowed me to become that person is the opportunity for a new beginning, 8-years ago, when I moved to the United States.

Now this opportunity comes knocking again.

Over the past 10 years, I have made a lot of progress on my emotional journey: I have become a better person. I have made progress on my physical journey: I eat better, exercise more and smoke less (work in progress). And I’m working on my stylistic journey: this has been a newer project of mine: rebuilding my wardrobe.

Since I’m packing boxes of my old life and realizing how much my tastes have changed, I’m also looking at making over my home. It’s time to create a place that I can call mine. And, funny enough, lately I have been obsessing with bed linens. I have never been the kind of person who would want expensive sheets and a pile of pillows. But, as I said, we change. And the best way to get a good start with your day is to wake-up in the best possible environment, isn’t it.

What’s your bedroom design style? What do you want to see when you wake-up?

In her New York Time article What’s sexy now? The slip, back in 2006, Ruth La Ferla linked the renewed interest to the lingerie icon to Old Hollywood: “Historically Hollywood has served up slips as a contradictory symbol of girlishness and womanly predation, one that glides between the poles of trashiness and class. A subtle invitation to misbehave, slips were impressed on the popular consciousness by stars like Ms. Taylor, not only dangerously feline in “Cat,” but elegantly debauched as she nursed a Scotch wearing satin and lace in “Butterfield 8.”" She saw a trend. And she was right.

Whether it’s an additional layer against cold weather, a solution for that little-too-sheer dress that’s staying in the closet or simply the idea of waking-up your inner Joan Holloway… the slip is an addition you might want to consider in your wardrobe.

From the modern Calvin Klein Stretch Satin Slip with its simple lines, basic colors and affordable price to the luxuriously girly Rosamosario Rosso Disera silk-chiffon slip there are many options out there for all tastes and all budgets.

What’s your take on it? Do you own one? What are your pros & cons?

Houston has been for several weeks now the location of Aloha Base Camp: a room at the Jesse H. Jones Rotary House, only a skybridge away from MD Anderson. If you’re lucky, you’ve never heard of MD Anderson and you have no idea what I’m talking about.

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has ranked #1 in cancer care in the “America’s Best Hospitals” survey published in U.S. News & World Report for eight of the past 10 years, including 2011. When you have been living with stage 4 Metastatic cancer for over 2-years and you just got diagnosed with an additional cancer in your spinal fluid, when you need a shunt in your head to drain fluid down to your belly and an Ommaya reservoir to allow intra-cranial chemotherapy, that’s where you want to be. So that’s where Team Tigger has set up camp, affectionately nicknamed Aloha Base Camp.

My friend V. has been on a healing mission since she was diagnosed with Lobular Carcinoma breast cancer in the summer of 2009. That mission first took her to Atlanta, GA, where she was treated at the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University. The goal was to get closer to her friends and family; and that’s where Team Tigger started to form: V.’s husband, her family, her childhood friends. All along, V. has wanted us to trust ”To fear for me is not loving me” she said in her CaringBridge Diary. She always thought, and still thinks, that she will beat that cancer. Both of them.

On June 16, 2010 V. celebrated her 45th birthday in Atlanta. In February of 2011, she was feeling good enough to move back to Maui, HI. Before this week, the last time I saw V. was in September, in Las Vegas, NV where she had a celebration for life with her 17 closest girl friends. Those women finished putting the T behind Team Tigger and when in December V. had to be rushed to MD Anderson developed an intricate support system that I’m extremely grateful to be a part of.

So, when I disappeared for a few days last week, that’s where I was, at Aloha Base Camp. It was my turn to take care of our friend. I helped preparing her meals, and was on pill-watch because I’m better at following a schedule than her big Australian Teddy Bear of a husband. I was a sounding board for the rest of the team (husband, dad and stepmom), and a presence and source of entertainment for V.

Again V. is a miracle. I was expecting to find a sick person, I found a healing person. V.’s favorite joke: “you girls are so crazy that all of you know that I pooped before I even get out of the bathroom”. Yup, that’s how tight the Ocean 17 net is. V.’s laughter is contagious.

V.’s stepmom nicknamed me “The Wise One” because I tried to direct all my love and energy into appeasing the fears and the anger that we all develop against cancer. I concentrated on trying to bring everyone together into a strong loving bound. I tried to stay objective and at peace. I absorbed. I discovered that 45 minutes can feel like hours when you are witnessing a friend being in pain and you know that there’s a way to relieve her but you can’t and you have to wait. I realized that the family ties are among the strongest and the weakest at the same time. I experienced empathy in its purest, rawest, draining form.

Everyday I try to respect V.’s request and not to fear. She gave me this necklace that says “Trust” and I’m caring it around my neck. I’m not going to lie, I’m a little afraid of letting go of my fear and simply trust. But for V. I’ll try to take the leap of faith, because I don’t think I’m the Wise One, I think she is.

8 years can feel like a lifetime or like a New York minute. But one thing is sure, I never stopped loving Philly and I will carry that city with me everywhere life takes me. Well, actually, literally.

See, as I mentioned before, my friends are the best. And they got me the best birthday/anniversary present a girl can ask for: jewelry! But not any kind of jewelry… They got me “The heart of Philadelphia“. A little pendant, designed by Steven Lagos, that carries with it four of the most symbolic Philadelphia monuments. And I’m not referring to the LOVE statue here, I’m talking real deal, old school, beautiful architecture: Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Independence Hall, City Hall and the Philadelphia Museum of Art mixed up in a very subtle way in the shape of a heart.

Add the dog-tag chain to hip it up a little bit and you get yourself the most fashionable, personal and meaningful gift I could have received. Well played A. & D. You’re getting brownie points for this one!

First, I woke-up to a white Philadelphia. It made me smile. My “Indian name” is Birthday In The Snow… A long story for another post some day.

Second, I treated myself to a movie: The Artist. And it was a perfect balance of beautiful picture and incredible acting. Just laughed a little bit when I was able to hear Jean Dujardin’s French accent in the only spoken line he has in the entire movie. Cute.

Third, K. and M. took care of my birthday dinner: some tofu/pineapple/collard greens concoction (M. is vegan) that was a delight for the taste buds. Funny that I actually happen to really like Tofu, and I’m not sure they even knew that.

Mr. J.J. was in charge of my birthday dessert, Creme Brulee. Second year in a row, I think it’s starting to become a tradition. I’m wondering he’s going to make that happen next year.

It was a small dinner at home, just 5 of us, and it was wonderful. We cracked open a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, left-over from New Year’s Eve and had conversation about sex, death and nuclear pipes. What’s not to love?

Next and final pit-stop was at R2L, and its fantastic view of the city. There, a dozen of my friends gathered around a dessert plate (playing second serving with desserts here, don’t tell anyone), gesture of the establishment and their adorable Sales & Marketing Manager.

I realized several things last night:

1. I couldn’t have been better surrounded than by the people that were there. They’re the friends that stuck with me through good times and rough patches.

2. I have a LOT of girl friends… Gentleman, they’re such an amazing group of ladies… It you don’t snag the single ones quick someone else will!

3. My tolerance to SideCars is highly improved – which I’m grateful for. The day my tolerance for brandy/bourbon/whiskey-based drinks will be directly proportional to my love for them will be a happy day.

So, here we are, the beginning of another year. It’s going to be a fantastic journey!

On my birthday, I could make “good” wishes: peace, health & happiness for all those around me… And I do. But the thing is, I always do. I don’t wait for Christmas, New Year or my birthday to want everything for my friends and family. So, this year, on my birthday, I decided to be selfish and make a list of what I want for myself… and not the become-a-better-person type of wish. The cost-money, don’t-need-it-just-want-it, type of wish.

And, you know what, all those things, I don’t expect anyone to get them for me (except maybe the Ouija Board); but if this year or next I can get them for myself… Then that will make me very happy.

What is on my wish list?

From the top, clockwise…

1. A Ouija Board (estimated value: $25)
Because I can’t find that in France and it would be so much fun to have one for game nights!

2. A pair of black Christian Louboutin pumps (estimated value: $650)
It’s a statement.  They’re beautiful. They’re expensive. And I could just rock those shoes!

3. An iMac desktop (estimated value: $1,500)
To complete my collection and because it would make a better TV screen than my MacBook Pro. Oh, sure, I could do some serious work on that too…

4. A trip to Patagonia (estimated value: $4,500)
If I can only take one more trip in my life, I would like to see Patagonia.

I’m not a cheap date, I know… But I’m worth it.

I wondered about the idea of using food as an ornament and what happens to those Candy Canes after Christmas is over… Not really something you can nicely box and save for next year. Trash? What a waste! I love the idea of candy canes on my Christmas tree but I want to make sure it recycles in some ways…

So I did some research. And guess what: it does recycle!

Among the many ideas offered by Chef Sarah Mentzer on her blog At Home For Dinner, one seem to be a perfect continuation in the everything-red traditions: from Christmas to Valentine’s Day! “For Valentine’s Day, unwrap two mini candy canes and place on a baking sheet in the shape of a hear. Bake at 350 degrees F for a couple of minutes until the stick together. Cool and remove with a spatula. Cute on top of a frosted cupcake if you use the mini candy canes.”

Many other ideas on her “Cleaning out the Fridge: Leftover Candy Canes” post!

Do you put real candy canes on your Christmas tree? What do you do with them after Christmas? Please don’t respond “eat them all”…

Purchase #1: L.L. Bean Rangeley Camp Shirt, Flannel – $39.50
Bought online – L. L. Bean has a free shipping policy that is very appreciable when trying to stay on a budget.

Purchase #2: Nine West Flax Pumps – $69.00
Bought at Macy’s, not on sale, but somehow cheaper than the discounted ones on the Nine West website.

Total for this month: $108.50 – $8.50 over budget… Not too bad…