La multi ani! ~ Happy New Year!

Dragii mei prieteni si cititori,

Un alt an ne paraseste astazi, si o noua usa se deschide in fata noastra. In pragul noului an va doresc ca visele sa va devina realitate, sperantele impliniri. Gandul bun si fericirea sa va insoteasca mereu, sa nu cunoasteti durere si nici amaraciune. Sa aveti parte de iubire si zambete alaturi de cei dragi, de zile insorite si bucurii nemarginite.

La multi ani!

A voastra,

Victoria West

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My dear friends and readers, As the clock ticks closer to midnight on this last day of 2024, I find myself reflecting on the year gone by. It's been a journey filled with unexpected turns, moments of joy, challenges that tested our resilience, and triumphs that warmed our hearts. Now, as we stand on the brink of a new year, there's a special kind of magic in the air — the magic of new beginnings.

May 2025 be the year where every sunrise brings with it a fresh canvas, painted with the colors of hope, love, and endless possibilities. May you find the courage to chase your dreams, no matter how distant they seem. Let this year be the one where you finally start that project you've been dreaming of, take that trip you've always wanted, or simply find the peace in the small moments that life offers.

I wish for your health to be robust, your laughter to be frequent, and your heart to be light. May you find joy in the daily, in the routine, and in the unexpected. Let wellness be not just a pursuit but a state of being. Here's to fewer worries, more laughter, and moments of genuine happiness that stretch into memories.

May this year expand your mind and spirit. Let each day be an opportunity to learn something new, to grow not just in knowledge but in empathy and understanding. May you find wisdom in books, in conversations, and in the silent moments of reflection. Let your curiosity lead you to new horizons.

In the new year to come, may your relationships deepen, your friendships strengthen, and your love grow. Whether it's reconnecting with old friends or forging new bonds, let every interaction be meaningful. Love, in all its forms, is the truest magic we possess — may you give it and receive it in abundance.

I wish for peace, both within you and around you. May disagreements resolve with understanding, may differences be celebrated rather than divided, and may your inner peace radiate outward to touch others. Let this year be one of harmony, where you find balance in life's chaos.

To you, my dear readers -- as we step into 2025, remember that each of us holds the power to shape our journey. Here's to making it a year of joy, love, growth, and peace. May all your wishes come true, and may you find the unexpected joys that make life truly beautiful.

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all the best for 2025.

Yours truly,

Victoria West

Photo credit: Google Images

Craciun fericit!

Dragii mei prieteni si cititori,

In aceasta seara magica de Craciun, vreau sa va transmit cele mai calde si sincere urari de bine. Fie ca steaua de pe cer sa va lumineze drumul cu speranta, iar caldura focului din vatra sa va aduca echilibru si liniste in suflet. Sa va fie casa plina de zambete, de dragoste si de bucuria reintalnirii cu cei dragi. Fie ca spiritul Craciunului sa va inspire sa impartasiti bunatate si sa va bucurati de darul pretios al momentelor petrecute impreuna. Va doresc un belsug de sanatate, fericire si un an mai bun decat cel pe care il lasam in urma.

Craciun fericit!

A voastra, Victoria West

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My dear friends and readers, 

As the first light of dawn breaks through the frosty windows on this Christmas Eve, I find myself enveloped in the warmth of the season's spirit. Outside, the world is dusted with a fresh layer of snow, transforming the familiar scene into a magical winter one, much like the landscapes in our favorite holiday stories.

This Christmas, I wish for you a moment of peace, a break from the rush of daily life where you can savor the simple joy of being. May your home be filled with the laughter of loved ones, the aroma of cinnamon and pine, and the glow of twinkling lights that dance like stars brought down from the sky.

In the spirit of the season, let's remember kindness, the true gift that costs nothing but means everything. May your heart be light, your burdens set aside, if only for these precious days. Let love be the melody that plays through your life, not just now, but in every moment of every day.

I wish for you the magic of Christmas to linger, not just in the festive decorations or the exchange of gifts, but in every act of goodwill, every smile shared, and every heart touched by the spirit of generosity. May your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmases be white, not just with snow, but with the purity of peace and the warmth of joy.

Merry Christmas to all of you, and may this holiday season bring you all the love and happiness you deserve.

Yours truly, Victoria West

Photo credit: Google Images

Happy Easter!

Today is a beautiful spring day. It's sunny and bright. A gorgeous blue sky with playful clouds. It's a mild temperature today, 7 degrees Celsius.

And it's Easter Sunday.

Easter is a time of the year when Mother Nature fully awakens from her winter slumber. Nature doesn't wake up from her deep sleep instantly, but rather she takes time in stages to come back to life.

To me, the very first sign of spring is March 1st, the first calendaristic day of spring. The winter months are over, and March is the month that officially marks the beginning of spring.

Then the daylight saving hour comes along during the second weekend of March -- in North America at least. We move the clocks one hour ahead to make a better use of the daylight. Now we SEEM to have longer days, the afternoons are sunnier now, and we have the opportunity to be more productive and to accomplish more during the bright hours of the day.

The Equinox on March 21st is the next step that Nature takes when changing seasons. She is more awaken now. The days and nights are now equal, ready to start their summer dance.

And finally, Easter. The time of the year when Mother Earth is fully awaken. The time of the year when the trees and flowers are in full bloom, when spring is finally here in all her warm and blossomed splendor.

May the miracle of Easter fill your heart with love and peace, and may the Easter bunny bring you lots of joy and happiness this year. Wishing you and your dear ones a wonderful day of hope, renewal, and blessings.

Happy Easter everyone!

Photo credit: Google Images

Happy Valentine's Day!

My dear friends and readers,

As we celebrate this day dedicated to love and affection, may your heart overflow with joy and warmth. Whether you're spending the day with a significant other, cherished friends, or simply reveling in self-love, may it be filled with moments that make your soul dance and your spirit soar. On this Valentine's Day, let's embrace the beauty of love in all its manifestations and spread its light wherever we go.

On today's Day of Love, I would like to share with you two of my paintings that I did in 2019 (acrylic on canvas), when I just started painting as a new hobby -- Love and Family. Both of these paintings are dedicated to those whom I love the most, my husband and my son.

In the beginning, I was painting very two-dimensional, but I hope to develop my painting techniques to create more complex works in the future, I am self-taught when it comes to painting.

Love, 2019

Family, 2019

The second painting, Family, made a cameo appearance in my book of poetry Sunset in Toronto published in 2021 -- page 35, to accompany the poem I Wish I Were an Artist from page 34.

Art (in its many forms) is also a great gift for friends and family, so I gifted many of my paintings to my friends as well, on different occasions, such as birthdays, Christmas, housewarming gifts.

Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours!

Photo credit: Victoria West

Wishing You a Merry Christmas!

My dear friends and readers,

Wishing you a season filled with love, laughter, and joy! May your heart be light, your days be merry, and your holidays be bright.

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!

Yours truly, Victoria West

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Dragii mei prieteni si cititori,

Va urez un Craciun plin de iubire, bucurie și momente frumoase alaturi de cei dragi! Sa va fie inima usoara, zilele pline de zambete insorite si sa aveti parte de sarbatori stralucitoare.

Crăciun Fericit!

A voastra, Victoria West

POEM: Christmas

It’s Saturday morning before Christmas.

I’m home with my kin.

All Christmas shopping is already done,

And the gifts are safely hidden until Christmas day.

Time to decorate the Christmas tree.

When I was a little girl,

I loved decorating the Christmas tree with my family.

It was my most beloved family tradition,

And I was looking forward to it every holiday season.

I loved the glittery Christmas balls, the lights, the tinsel.

And of course, the star.

As the youngest member of the family,

I was always the one to put the star on top of the tree, the final touch.

Years later, I have my own family.

Saturday before Christmas is the day to decorate the Christmas tree in my living room.

I kept my old family tradition alive,

And I passed it on to my next generation.

Now my son is the one who puts the star on top of the Christmas tree, year after year.

And I still love the glittery Christmas balls, the lights, the tinsel.

And of course, the star.

Everything is ready for Santa to come.

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.

~~~~~~~~~

From my book of poetry Sunset in Toronto (2021), page 84.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The long weekend is here, and I would like to wish everyone a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving filled with love and happiness. May the warm glow of autumn surround you and your loved ones as you celebrate the holiday with family and friends. May your blessings be multiplied this year and throughout your entire life. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

On another note, this is my story #700 on my blog, in 13 years since I started writing this blog. 😊

Have a Great Long Weekend

I hope you are all enjoying the long weekend! It's the Labour Day long weekend in Canada, the last one this summer before school starts next week. I didn't plan for any faraway traveling over this weekend, but I will go out to sightsee some of my local attractions during this long weekend that I haven't seen yet. 

I also took a few days off from work, so this in fact will be an extralong weekend for me, till next Wesnesday, when I attend a fashion event downtown Toronto, in the wake of TIFF -- Toronto International Film Festival, which starts next week. In fact, I do it every year, I take a mini-vacation at the beginning of September (two more days after the long weekend), to attend said fashion event which is an annual occurence and takes place downtown Toronto one day before TIFF starts. And so every year I consider it to be my last summer vacation, and that last Wednesday when I attend this fashion event is my last summer day. My fall this year will start next Thursday, September 7th, when I am back to work.

But before that, let's enjoy the last days of summer. 😍

Photo credit: Victoria West

The Long Weekend

I hope you are all enjoying the long weekend! It's the Civic Holiday in Canada this weekend. Summer is ripe, and there is no better time for a weekend getaway than this time.

My long weekend took me to the beach on Lake Simcoe, one hour North of Toronto.

Photo credit: Victoria West

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July to all my American friends and readers!

Photo credit: Google Images

Happy Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day to everyone! Enjoy your long weekend!

Photo credit: Google Images

Happy Father's Day!

My dear friends and readers, I hope you are having a wonderful day today celebrating the great dads in your life -- fathers, grandfathers, husbands, brothers, uncles, and everyone in your family and among your friends who are fathers. Family is the most important thing in our life, our anchor, our strength, our resilience.

Happy Father's Day!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

My dear friends and readers, I would like to wish you a fabulous holiday season and a very Merry Christmas! May all your wishes come true, and may you and your loved ones be blessed with love, happiness, well-being and all the best in the world!

I will spend this holiday season with my family at home. The Christmas tree is already decorated, and my son is very excited about Santa coming to town. I am about to start cooking the turkey and the other Christmas dishes, and we are looking forward to spending a peaceful holiday season at home -- enjoying some time off from work, watching Christmas movies, unwinding after so much hard work this year. I have also been busy sending out my Christmas wishes to friends, both online and on Christmas cards by mail.

I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful holiday season.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Yours truly,
Victoria West

Happy New Year 2018!

My dear friends and readers, it's the beginning of a new year, so here's to new opportunities. What I wish for myself in the new year is happiness, and I wish the same to all of you. May all you wishes and resolutions for the New Year come true, may 2018 bring you all the happiness in the world, may it be a better year than the one before.

Happy New Year everyone!

Yours truly,
Victoria West


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Dragii mei prieteni si cititori, sper ca ati avut sarbatori splendide, sper ca v-ati bucurati de vacanta de iarna din plin, sper ca ati avut un Craciun minunat alaturi de cei dragi, si sper ca ati avut parte de o noapte de Revelion de vis, si va doresc un an nou fabulos! Sa va fie 2018 asa cum vi-l doriti!

La multi ani tuturor!

A voastra,
Victoria West

Merry Christmas!

My dear friends and readers, I hope you all have an amazing holiday season this year, and may your heart be always full of joy, love and happiness. May all your wishes come true, and may you and your loved ones be blessed with love, happiness, cheer, joy, well-being and all the best in the world.

Merry Christmas everyone and Happy Holidays!
Yours truly, Victoria West

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Dragii mei prieteni si cititori, va urez tuturor un Craciun cat mai frumos, mai alb, mai pufos, mai imbelsugat, care sa va umple inimile de lumina si iubire, si de care sa va bucurati din plin alaturi de cei dragi! Sa aveti parte de sarbatori minunate, si sa gasiti sub brad tot ceea ce va doriti!

Sarbatori fericite!
A voastra, Victoria West

Happy Mother's Day!

To all moms out there, I would like to wish you a wonderful Mother's Day! May you all be loved and cherished by your families, today and every day!

Happy Mother's Day!

Photo credit: Victoria West

Happy Easter / Paste Fericit!

This year the Western and Eastern christian world celebrate Easter on the same day, like it happens once every few years. I am at home today, as my long weekend for the Easter holidays has just started. I'll start cooking for Easter soon, and among the dishes that will grace my Easter dinner this year will be the traditional lamb and my renowned cabbage rolls. And of course, red eggs.

I would like to wish a wonderful holiday season to all those who celebrate Easter this coming Sunday.

Happy Easter!

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In acest an crestinii din Vest si din Est, adica cei catolici si cei ortodoxi, sarbatoresc Pastele in aceeasi duminica. Astazi sunt acasa, caci in Canada weekendul lung cu ocazia sarbatorilor pascale incepe in Vinerea Mare. Voi incepe pregatirile pentru ziua de Paste cat de curand, iar printre bucatele traditionale care se vor gasi pe masa mea de Paste in acest an vor fi friptura de miel, sarmalele mele celebre care au reputatia celor mai bune sarmale din Toronto, si bineinteles, oua rosii. Eu si familia mea vom petrece sarbatorile pascale acasa in acest an.

Sarbatori fericite tuturor celor care celebreaza Pastele in acest weekend!

Happy New Year 2017!

My dear friends and readers, I would like to take this moment to wish you an amazing and fabulous 2017 with the best and the greatest it can bring to you and to your loved ones! May all your wishes and resolutions come true, may you and your loved ones be blessed with love, joy, well-being and all the best in the world, and may this year be a happy one for all of you, no matter what happiness means to each of you!

Happy New Year!

Yours truly,
Victoria West

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Suntem la sfarsit de an, numaratoarea inversa a inceput, suntem in pragul unei alte nopti de Revelion, ciocnim cupele de sampanie, ii strangem in brate pe cei dragi.
Va imbratisez cu drag in preajma noului an, si va doresc sa aveti parte de bucurii, fericire, impliniri, prosperitate, sanatate si tot ce va doriti.
Daca va ganditi la rezolutii pentru noul an, va doresc sa vi le indepliniti; iar daca nu, va doresc ca 2017 sa va surprinda cu tot ce va avea mai bun de oferit.
Va multumesc din suflet ca mi-ati fost alaturi pana acum, si sper sa imi fiti alaturi si in noul an.
Sa aveti un an nou fabulos, si sa ne auzim cu bine si dupa miezul acestei nopti.

La multi ani!

A voastra,
Victoria West

New Year's Eve Outfit Suggestions from DressFashion.co.uk

Hello everyone, I hope you had a fabulous Christmas, and now the next party that everybody is getting ready for is New Year's Eve, which is just around the corner, a few days away! Have you already decided upon your outfit for the biggest party of the year? I have RSVP'd to a New Year's Eve party with friends this year, and I'll be wearing a black bandage dress. For today's story I thought to come up with a few suggestions for the New Year celebration, and I browsed DressFashion.co.uk, a British online shop that retails elegant dresses for all occasions (evening dresses, cocktail dresses, wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, prom dresses, etc.) for some inspiration. The good part about these dresses is that they can be worn to other occasions as well, not just to the New Year's Eve party.

What do you think of these dresses?

Happy Holidays everyone!

Dress, see it here

Dress, see it here

Dress, see it here

Dress, see it here

Dress, see it here

Photo credit: Courtesy of DressFashion.co.uk

Merry Christmas!

My dear friends and readers, I wish you a fabulous holiday season and a very Merry Christmas! May all your wishes come true, and may you and your loved ones be blessed with love, happiness, cheer, joy, well-being and all the best in the world.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Yours truly,
Victoria West

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Dragii mei prieteni si cititori, va urez tuturor un Craciun cat mai frumos, mai alb, mai pufos, mai imbelsugat, care sa va umple inimile de lumina si iubire, si de care sa va bucurati din plin alaturi de cei dragi! Sa aveti parte de sarbatori minunate, si sa gasiti sub brad tot ceea ce va doriti! Va multumesc din suflet ca cititi acest blog, ca imi sunteti alaturi in fiecare zi, si sper sa imi fiti alaturi si pe viitor.

Sarbatori fericite!

A voastra,
Victoria West.