Hiatus

Hi Lovelies- I am now sitting in the business lounge of the Sunnyside Hotel in Johannesburg. I have decided to put Itsandbits on hold for the next 2 months during my travels- but I have started a new blog journal to post all of my tavel adventures for the next little while. so, here it is. check it regularly for my latest adventures. xo

http://sjjttravels.wordpress.com

One love- SjjT

my life in a nutshell.

Dearest readers,

I apologize for my lack of posts- I have been so busy getting ready for my upcoming international adventure.

I’m leaving for South Africa this Sunday night- EEK! For those of you who don’t know, I am from SA- and I haven’t been back in over TEN YEARS. So, you can imagine just how thrilled I am to go back to my homeland. I think it’s due time. I’m excited to see where I’m from, where I grew up, where my family is from, and all the little tidbits of memories in my mind being put to an actual setting. Besides for my personal journey, I am so eager to see SA after all these years, and how much it has changed. I’ll be in Johannesburg for ~6 days, and I cannot wait for 3 specific things. Not to mention, I just saw Invictus, and I absolutely loved it. The whole time I heard the African music and South African accent I got goosebumps knowing I’d be there so soon.

• The African market- and I mean, the REAL market, where you can see, feel, smell, and be part of what SA is all about- the food, the beads, the people, the color, the beats… not those tourist gimmicky sites. None of that on MY trip!! Picture source: Happy Tellus

• Biltong- if you don’t know what this is, go wikipedia it… it’s an SA traditional sort of meat jerky…. and to all my North American friends who are thinking to themselves “beef jerky?! that’s gross!”, all I have to say is…no, biltong is not gross, and  I’m not gross for liking it. you have to experience it to love it. Picture Source:  Rainbow Cooking

• The sun- the summer in montreal for the past few years have been full of rain, grey skies, and 15 degree weather… meaning: no sun, no heat, no tan. I am super excited to get some real African sun on my skin. Picture Source: XE Media

After my time in SA, I’m heading to Israel for about 2 months. I have a layover for a whole day in Amsterdam- I’m excited because I have never been there before. And, it turns out that my friend N has recently moved there! By pure coincedince we’re going to be able to meet and catch up during the few hours I have there.

Once arriving in Israel, I’ll be spending a couple of days with my family in areas near Tel Aviv, then heading to Jerusalem for 10 days for an intense first aid paramedic training. I’ll have to pass the exams ( which I’m not looking forward to! But I think I’ll be ok..!!) I head to Haifa with some other people to start placement work in the ambulances for 5.5 weeks.

E-X-C-I-T-I-N-G!!!!!!

So, my lovelies, I hope to keep you all updated with all my adventures. Please don’t think I have forgotten about you… I promise I have not.

Lots of Love

~Sjjt

hello lily

These lilies were gorgeous! We bought them completely closed and then they opened up beautifully and were magnificent for many days.

Did you know that only the pink and white lilies smell? The yellow and orange ones don’t have the distinct lily smell.

Fun fact of the day!!

lots of love and giggles

~sjjt

S-T-A-R-S!

Check out my interview with Evan Cranley from Stars!!!

picture source: the music ninja

i love you

Polaroid of the week

I love the delicate colors and lighting of this picture. Beautiful moment captured.

Picture Source: A Little Hamster

~sjjt xo

Best feelings

So I decided to write down my top 5 best realistic,day to day, best feelings. None of the mushy stuff, none of the idealistic romanticized stuff… but real feelings, that many can relate to.

My top 5 best feelings are….

• 1) Walking off a long flight and having all the special people you love and that love you waiting at the airport to pick you up.

• 2) That first instance when you dunk your head under the warm (more like hot and steamy for me ) water when you’re having a bath.

• 3) Getting an A (or, even better, MULTIPLE As) on your exams/papers/report card.

• 4) That floating feeling you get after a good workout, and then taking a sip of cold water to quench your thirst.

• 5) That first instant you put on warm socks and cuddle up in bed with your kitty when you’re absolutely freezing.

Picture Source: young-n-reckless

What are your best day to day feelings?

~sjjt

peacock love

My latest obsession lately has been with peacock feathers. They’re so exquisitely beautiful- the lush green and shiny blue tints make them stand out and have such an edge. I also love how they’re been incorporated into fashion and accessories. Check out some cool digs I’ve found:

• Tights (picture source: splendora.com)- These tights could be worn with the feathers on the front or the back- I have yet to find one with the feathers on the side of the leg- When I do, I’ll definitely snag a pair. I’d most likely wear these tights with the feathers on the back of the leg though.
• Headbands: I actually have made some feather inspired headbands myself this past week, and, of course, I incorporated the peacock feather. My picture didn’t come out so great, but it’s the best I can do. Checkout some of these that I found on Etsy… gorgeous!
• 

Etsy Store: Pegasus Maiden

Etsy Shop: LiveInStyle

Etsy Shop: Pegasus Maiden

Etsy Shop: Blacksatinshoes

Etsy Shop: Washed Up Mermaid

• Apparel: I know some of these may not have just the peacock feather, but they’re inspired by peacocks (and their feathers), which make them just as awesome.
• How gorgeous is this tunic!?                                                 Etsy Shop: NoraKaren

Picture Source: Polyvore

Picture Source: Style.com

• Jewelry: Check out these gorgeous goodies I stumbled upon- my fave is the gold necklace… but the cuff comes pretty close too

Picture Source: BonadragPicture Source: Polyvore

Picture Source: Unknown

Etsy Shop: Schmutzerland

• Other paraphernalia: Check out this baby- how cool?! I want a fan like this!!                  Etsy Shop: WornFlowers I love the beige contrast with the peacock blue- great combo!            Picture Source: Splendicity.com Picture Source: Splendid Willow And for all your Beaus out there… we haven’t forgotten them                Picture Source: Fashion Binge
• Last, but not least….BAM! CHECK THAT OUT! I don’t know if I’d ever get a tattoo, but this one is pretty rocking!  Picture Source: Tattoo Much

I hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I did making it, and that you’re now inspired to add some peacock feathers to your wardrobe .

<3, Sjjt

food for thought.

Lately, I’ve been pondering about somethings that have been lingering in my mind for a while. Both evolutionary/scientifically speaking, and perhaps even religiously speaking,

Why do men have nipples? Or, to be broader, why do men have breasts (which include nipples?)

what do you think?

Also, from (western)  religious points of view,

Why do female animals feel pain during childbirth if, according to the bible, it was EVE who was condemned to pain during labor (thus all WOMEN, not FEMALES of other species)- is there any sort of explanation behind this? religiously speaking? or evolutionary perhaps?

I wonder….

Do you have any ideas or hypotheses?

~sjjt

did you know…

… that hummingbirds are one of the only birds that can fly backwards? and that they flap their wings faster than any other bird, allowing them to hover (like insects), while other birds cannot.

hooray for hummingbirds!!!!!!!

picture source:  creation facts

~sjjt

the song i’m feeling…

“The Night Starts Here”- Stars

The night starts here
The night starts here
Forget your name
Forget your fear

The night starts here
The night starts here
Forget your name
Forget your fear

The pleasure car
The afterthought
The missing stone in the graveyard

The time we have
The tast at hand
The love it takes
To become a man

The dust at dawn
Is reigned upon
Attaches itself
To everyone

No one is spared
No one is clean
It travels places
You’ve never been
Or seen before

The night starts here
The night starts here
Forget your name
Forget your fear

The night starts here
The night starts here
Forget your name
Forget your fear

You drop a coin
Into the sea
And shout out, “Please come back to me”

You name your track
After your fear
And tell them, “I have brought you beer”

The pleasure part
The aftershock
The moment that
It takes to fall apart

The time we have
The task at hand
The love it takes
To destroy a man

The ectasy
The being free
The big black cloud
over you and me

And after that
The upward fall
And we’ll be angels
Afterall

I dont know
I dont know

The night starts here
The night starts here
Forget your name
Forget your fear

The night starts here
The night starts here
Forget your name
Forget your fear

You drop a coin
Into the sea
And shout out, “Please come back to me”

You name your track
After your fear
And tell them, “I have brought you beer”

The night starts here
The night starts here
Forget your name
Forget your fear

The night starts here
The night starts here
Forget your name
Forget your fear

You drop a coin
Into the sea
And shout out, “Please come back to me”

You name your track
After your fear
And tell them, “I have brought you beer”

The night starts here
The night starts here
Forget your name
Forget your fear

The night starts here
The night starts here
Forget your name
Forget your fear

You drop a coin
Into the sea
And shout out, “Please come back to me”

You name your track
After your fear
And tell them, “I have brought you beer”

absence makes the heart grow fonder

picture source: Notebook Doodles

polaroid of the week

picture source: Collector’s Quest

back in action!

Happy 2010 darlings!!!! I’m back from my holidays, refreshed as can be. I had a wonderful time with my family, E, and friends. I spent the first part of the holidays in a little town in the eastern townships of Quebec, in a cute and perfect set bed and breakfast. Seeing it was my grandfather’s 80th, we rented the whole place- and it was absolutely perfect. Each room had a different theme ( chinese-moroccan-mediterranean-spring), with our own fire place, jacuzzi baths, and quaint set ups. We spent the days venturing the little towns ( one of which might be the town of one of my Medical Schools which I applied to!) and the nights were spent playing board games and watching movies. Perfect, perfect, perfect.

After our few days in the picturesque Quebecois town, I head down to Vermont with my brother J and his gf M, and my beau E came too. We had  great time- we stayed at the Essex culinary resort and spa, where I got not one, but TWO massages (since E didn’t want his, I got it!). It was so nice to relax and just spend time together. I as also introduced to the most awesomest board game called settlars- have you heard of it? It’s awesome (in case you couldn’t tell by my enthusiasm )

For NYE, I celebrated with a bunch of friends and had a great time. M lent me her awesome 2010 glasses that were rocked by many.

The past few weeks I’ve finished up my applications, spent time with E and my darling Tooky, gone up north with my girls, enjoyed some winter wonders, and plan to just enjoy the rest of the month before I head to Israel for my volunteer program in Feb… some adventures I’m looking forward to are:

• trips to museums,
• learning how to ski,
• (hopefully) getting a car,
• reviewing and photographing concerts,
• interviewing EXCITING bands (names to come soon… STAY TUNED!),
• taking a vegan cooking class,
• painting,
• reading,
• lots of yoga,
• and lots of birthdays.

Now that 2010 has come, I am getting ready for new adventures, new beginnings, and letting go of some things.

How were your holidays?

I’ve missed you all.

love always,

Sjjt

me and E- NYE 2010

S+S, Me+E- NYE 2010

hehehehe <3

Me + E- Vermont!

J + M- Vermont!!

Me and my biddies in the Snow- L+J+S!

rice krispie squares... 3:1 ratio marshmallows:cereal= DISASTER

snow!!! tubing!!!

This post wouldn't be complete without an appearance of my Tooky

polaroid of the week

merry christmas and happy holidays!!

~sjjt

picture source: surrender love