About

Hello, my name is Jeanine.

I never quite know what to say about myself and when I don’t know what to say, I tend to ramble so now might be a good time to stick a load of laundry in the washing machine, brew yourself a cup of coffee and grab a snack because this is going to take a while.

I was born in Detroit in 1975, the unforgettable year of Jimmy Hoffa’s disappearance, curly perms, Jaws, Microsoft, the Rocky Horror Picture Show and Get Down Tonight at the top of the charts.

I flew from the nest when I was 17 years old and have moved 30+ times since.  I have nomad in my blood and tend to get antsy when I stay in one place for too long — something about the wind whispering sweet nothings in my ear. (Update: maybe it’s age talking, but I think I’m now ready for my forever home.)

I was in a relationship for 12 years, which ended on Valentine’s Day 2008.  A year after the split, I travelled solo for five weeks across England, Spain and Italy. On the very first day of my trip, I met a British Boy. I do believe it was love at first sight. We were in a long distance relationship for three years, travelling back and forth and in-between. It was challenging and expensive and adventurous and exciting. However, it couldn’t last forever (thank God). He proposed in November 2011 and we were married a month later in Lake Placid, NY. In 2015, our baby girl was born. She is our light, our guru. It still sounds surreal when I say “I live in London with my husband and our daughter.” You never can tell where life will take you.

I’m French Canadian so I tend to pepper my posts with random expressions from the homeland, particularly when I can’t find the words in English, which means that you may not always understand what I’m saying but that’s okay because I am sans rapport sometimes so you won’t be missing much.

I am a wine and whiskey lush. Scratch that. I was a wine and whiskey lush and then I went and had a baby. Now half a glass of wine = plastered.

I have an alarmingly large love for dark chocolate and my heart skips a beat when strangers (male or female) return a smile.

I am a music fiend. Seriously. It’s an obsession. I can’t actually imagine my life without music in it. Nor do I want to.

Photography is like crack to me. Especially 35mm.

My favourite piece of punctuation is the exclamation mark because it packs a punch!  My least favourite is the semicolon because I never quite know in what context to use it so I prefer to pretend it doesn’t exist.

I am quirky, clumsy, sometimes moody, generally prone to giggles and a firm believer in magic and signs from the universe.

I strive for balance while exploring the extremes to ensure that I never fall into habit (the curdle in life’s crème brulée).  I live for experiences and subsequent stories to tell, which for me means going to the edge and shaking my reality once in a while, then retreating to my cave where I can process it all (like a true introvert).

This blog is where I come to remind myself of all that is good and beautiful in life.  It’s a pretty good representation of me.  Sometimes I’m contemplative and poetic and shy and soulful… other times I’m downright silly and gritty and like a sailor at sea with a mouthful of whiskey and profanity. I am a walking contradiction and for the longest time this made me feel aimless.  But I now realise that I am a seeker of stories, experiences and beauty, which means that I have to taste a little bit of everything that life has to offer.  Pegging me might be difficult but one thing is certain: I LOVE LIFE.

I would like to see northern lights, New York City (check), the pyramids of Egypt and monkeys in the wild (check).  Also, I hope to one day live in a house by a lake, with lots of pets, love, laughter, a full wine cellar and a kickass popcorn machine.

I always love to hear from readers, so please feel free to email me and say hello.